Meerpolder near Zoetermeer

South-Holland

Boonenvliet

Starts in Vlaardingen, ends in Maassluis

Length 12-16 km

Route description

Route map

This is a very nice route. You see lots of water, polders and it ends in Maassluis, a small cozy town you will appreciate very much. The route is seriously threatened by plans to create a new highway through it, so hurry if you still like to walk this one!

Bieslandse Bos

Starts in Delft, ends in Pijnacker or Zoetermeer

Length 7-12 km

Route description

Route map

This route starts in the old town of Delft, famous for the Delft Blue china works. You walk out of the city, you go through wet lands, park areas and a brand new forest, which is still a quite open landscape. The route ends in Zoetermeer at the railway station. At some points there is a very rich bird life to see.

De Horsten

Starts in The Hague (Central Railway Station), ends in Voorschoten

Length 19 km

Route description

Route map

I never walked this one, but I know the region well. I think this is a nice one, maybe a bit noisy because of nearby roads. It's flat, meadows, woods. The centre of Voorschoten is nice, but nothing special. It's at some distance behind the railway station there.

Meijendel

Starts in The Hague (Central railway station), ends in Wassenaar (bus stop)

Length 12 km

Route description

Route map

This is a very nice route. It starts through the parks in The Hague, then you come in one of the most beautiful Dutch dune parks, called Meijendel. A good alternative is at sightseeing point 6 on the map, to go in the direction of the beach ("strand" in Dutch). At the beach walk south, till you come back in town near the Pier head of Scheveningen. There you find many restaurants. You can use tram no 9 to go back to the railway station. This makes the route a bit longer.

Hollandse Biesbosch

Starts in Dordrecht ends in Dordrecht Stadspolder railway station

Length 16 km

Route description

Route map

This route does not start at the railway station, you need bus no 5 or 7 to Sterrenburg. Leave the bus at the end point of the line. Users comment that the route is not marked very well, so you really will need the map. Somewhere halfway a bridge is missing. You have to go left there, about 50 m, where you find a dam that allows crossing the creek.

The route is nice, but does not provide wide views. It's a typical wetland route with lots of water. The last part is over a dike and cycle road to the railway station. There is a shortcut that allows to avoid the real wet stuff. You will miss a lot then...

Fort Vuren

Starts in Gorinchem, ends in Leerdam

Length 21 km

Route description

Route map

Gorinchem is a nice town. One of the top attractions is the ferry to Loevestein. You cannot combine it very well with this walk, but I can recommend that trip. You go over the river Merwede (one of the Rhine delta branches) to a small old town called Woudrichem. A bit east of Woudrichem you can visit the mediaeval castle Loevestein. Loevestein is famous because the Dutch law scientist Hugo de Groot (Hugo Grotius) was kept there in prison. he escaped by hiding himself into a large book chest and was smuggled out of the castle. Half way the route is a bus stop, but you must phone them at least one hour before, to be picked up there.