Criss-cross through the Green Heart of Holland
- Destination: Schoonhoven
- Kind of trip: You can make 4 wonderful walks from a nicely located comfortable hotel in the centre of Schoonhoven in the middle of the Green Heart
- Duration: 4 days and 4 nights
- Difficulty trip:
- Inclusive: Four nights in a comfortable 3 star hotel, including breakfast, maps, route descriptions and GPS routes. Free parking, city tax, a small fee for the warranty fund, and a small contribution to the foundation for supporting the landscape of the province Zuid-Holland
- Exclusive: Travel to and from Schoonhoven, lunch, dinner, busfare ( +/- € 3,25 pp), ferry ticket ( +/- € 0.60 pp) and travel insurance
- Dog: Not allowed
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Price:
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Due to the high inflation, we unfortunately cannot give fixed prices. If the price is higher after booking, you have the possibility to cancel your trip. The prices quoted here are an approximation as good as possible.
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€ 355,- per person by booking for two persons
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€ 479,- for one person
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Are there more of you please contact Hike in Holland for pricing
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If you require more or less than 4 nights, the extension price is added or subtracted
Description:
From the picturesque town of Schoonhoven you will undertake several walkabouts through the unique nature of Holland’s Green Heart. This is a typically Dutch area where you can enjoy polders, windmills, meandering rivers, stately farmhouses, and new nature. You’ll start you walk to the east of Schoonhoven. You’ll walk through the floodplains of the river Lek, and through an old peat area before you reacht the small stream of Lopikerwetering, which will take you back to Schoonhoven. The second day you’ll walk between the Lek and the meandering river Vlist. You’ll pass some new nature in the Hooge Boezem achter Haastrecht, which is ideal for birdwatching. For the third walk you’ll have to take a bus to IJsselstein. From this lovely town you’ll walk along a wonderful grass path in the direction of Schoonhoven, through the nature area of Willeskop. The final walk takes you across the river Lek with the Ferry. You’ll walk amongs the fruit trees, and will visit the small fortress of Nieuwpoort.
We offer you 4 walks and 4 nights in Schoonhoven in this tour, but you can stay shorter or longer as you wish. Just let us know.
Unique:
This is a strictly nature trip with just a whiff of picturesque towns. This is the heart of the Green Heart. You’ll walk on grass dikes, polder roads, gravel paths, and small roads. Some of these paths are ancient, connecting one village without a church to another one with a church, or connecting a farmer to the main road through an old tax road. Old and new nature are connected here. You’ll really get to know the polders that created Holland, you’ll see a lot of birds (different ones in every season). New nature is especially developed for harboring birds. And of course walking through the floodplains of the Lek is a special experience. Your hotel in Schoonhoven is located on the river Lek, which is a busy river, so there is always something to see.
Along the river the Lek
Day 1: Arrival in Schoonhoven and walk between Lek and Lopikerwetering (19 km)
After delivering your luggage at the hotel, you’ll make a walk to the east of Schoonhoven. You’ll start your walk on an old gravel road through the polders. This is one of the ancient tax roads. This road brings you to the dike of the river Lek, which you’ll follow for a little while, until you descend into its floodplains. After this you’ll pass through the village of Lopik, where you’ll pass through the village center and along the church. You’ll end up on the small river Lopikerwetering wich will serpentine you slowly back to Schoonhoven, passing the village of Cabauw along the way.
One of the beautiful farms on your way
Day 2: Along the rivers the Vlist and Lek (20 km)
Today there’s a wonderful walk along the rivers Lek and Vlist, with some polders and an old embankment in between. You’ll start along the Lek, westward. After a few kilometers you’ll dive down into the polders. Small roads bring you to the Bergvlietsekade, a beautiful embankment along a small stream. After that you’ll pass the Hooge Boezem achter Haastrecht, a new nature area, fit for some birdwatching (bring your binoculars!). After this you’ll walk back to Schoonhoven along the meandering river Vlist, where you can see many a stately farmhouse. The river ends in Schoonhoven where it runs into the Lek, so you’ll end up in your hotel automatically.
Between IJsselstein and Schoonhoven
Day 3: : Between IJsselstein - Schoonhoven (22 km)
Today you’ll take the bus to IJsselstein,which will take you half an hour. From there you’ll walk back to Schoonhoven along a wonderful grass path. This path takes you to the new nature area of WIlleskop, where there is a lookout tower. After this you’ll walk through the typical village of Polsbroekerdam, followed by a small gravel path which takes you to the church of Cabauw. After this it is not so far anymore to Schoonhoven.
Fortress Nieuwpoort
Day 4: Around the fortress of Nieuwpoort (19 km) and back home
This final day we’ll walk on the other side of the river Lek. This means we start by taking the ferry across. We’ll pass by the small fortress of Nieuwpoort and then take another old tax road between the meadows and fruit trees, especially beautiful in early spring. You’ll walk back to Nieuwpoort on an grass path and past an old windmill. Finally you’ll walk into Nieuwpoort and have a look at this small village, before taking the ferry back to Schoonhoven.
If the weather is nice, you’re in a good place just sitting in front of the hotel, watching the ships go by. This is a big river, so there’s always plenty to see. There are some other things to visit in Schoonhoven as well. There is the Silver Museum. Schoonhoven is the town where the Dutch silversmiths used to live, and still do. This museum will tell you all about this. Then there are some old buildings like the Veerpoort (Ferrygate), city hall (with 50 bells in the tower), and a wonderful water tower. Schoonhoven is also a good starting point for cycling through the area, or visiting the world famous Windmills of Kinderdijk. The towns of Rotterdam and Utrecht are also within reach and closer by is the town of Gouda which has a nice medieval town centre.
Prices extension:
| City |
2 persons |
1 person |
| Schoonhoven |
€75,- |
€105,- |
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Price per person and includes breakfast and VAT.
This offer is covered by the STO Garant guarantee. You can find the conditions for this guarantee scheme on STO Garant’s.
