Cycling along the Linge

Discover the beautiful views and rich history along the Linge. You will pass through old towns such as Leerdam, and you will also cycle past the many orchards in the Betuwe.

Marienwaerdt estate
You soon enter the protected village of Beesd. You can see here, among other things, the unfinished sixteenth-century tower of St. Peter's Church. The tower used to be used as a refuge when the Linge overflowed its banks. A little later you will pass the glory of Mariënwaerdt. This private estate of over 900 hectares contains no less than 40 national monuments, such as 14 homesteads, haystacks and flood barns.

Castle Merckenburg
With its 108 kilometers in length, the Linge is one of the longest rivers that has its source in the Netherlands. No wonder there is so much to see. At Heukelum, for example, you pass Merckenburg Castle, which originally dates from the thirteenth century. The current building was built around 1700. In Acquoy you drive past a fifteenth-century church tower that is slightly out of plumb.

Forts along the Linge
As befits a river of significance, there are also a few forts along the Linge. You will pass KunstFort Asperen, an imposing monument. In the past, the tower fortress was surrounded by a moat and could only be reached via a wooden drawbridge. As a history buff, you will enjoy yourself here. Various exhibitions and art events are also organized in this historic environment. A few kilometers away is Werk on the Diefdijk railway. This fortification was built in 1880 on both sides of the Dordrecht-Elst railway. There were movable crane bridges in front of and behind the work. One unique example can still be viewed.