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 fruit orchards in the Betuwe.

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

Merckenburg Castle
With a length of 108 kilometers, 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 significant river, there are also several forts along the Linge. You will pass KunstFort Asperen, an imposing monument. Previously, the tower fortress was surrounded by a moat and could only be reached via a wooden drawbridge. As a history lover you will get your money's worth here. Various exhibitions and art events are also organized in this historic environment. A few kilometers away is Work 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 and behind the work. One unique copy can still be viewed.