Cycling past forts and orchards

In the outskirts of Culemborg you can enjoy cycling through the polder. You will discover orchards, picturesque villages with an ancient history and two forts from the New Dutch Waterline.

Wheel of Bassa
You cycle past the Wheel of Bassa, the largest breakthrough wheel in the Netherlands. The vortex is about thirteen hectares in size and was created in 1573 when the Diefdijk was flooded. Around the wheel you cycle through a beautiful landscape of orchards, meadows and old farmyards. Really a picture! In Hei- en Boeicop it seems as if you are driving into the past. The church originally dates from the thirteenth century.

Goilberdingerwaard
Just before Culemborg you drive through the Goilberdingerwaard, a bird-rich floodplain area consisting of flowery grassland, reed beds, pollard willows and hawthorn bushes. From the dike you have beautiful views over the Lek and you can see Fort Everdingen and Fort Werk aan het Spoel. A nice place to stop for a picnic and a photo.

Past two fortresses
The route takes you past two forts from the New Dutch Waterline. The first thing you see in the landscape is Fort Everdingen. This fortress dates from 1847 and its function was to hermetically close off the high-lying passage of the Lek dikes and the floodplains. This fort was used by the Defense Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service until 2014. A little further on you will pass Werk aan het Spoel. In 1815, a fortified sluice was built here in the Lekdijk to flood the area behind in case of an attack.

You can also cycle route 537827 from Camping BetuweStrand Recreation.