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In the footsteps of humanist Erasmus

  • Destination: Gouda, Rotterdam and Lekkerkerk (The Green Heart)
  • Kind of trip: Walks along interesting points in the life of the humanist Erasmus
  • Duration: 2 days (1 night)
  • Difficulty trip:
  • Inclusive: An overnight stay in a comfortable 3-star hotel with breakfast, VAT, city tax, maps, English route directions,free parking, GPS track and a small contribution to Zuid Hollands Landschap (www.zuidhollandslandschap.nl)
  • Exclusive: The outward and homeward journey, parking fees, trainticket, fee for a ferry, lunch, dinner, lugage transport and travel and cancellation insurance
  • Dog: Allowed
  • Price:
    • 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.
    • € 99,- per person based on 2 people
    • € 139,- for one person
    • Are there more of you please contact Hike in Holland for pricing
Location:
Description:

With this hiking trip you’ll get to know some of the many faces of Holland. You’ll walk through typical Dutch Polders in the Green Heart, with its many canals, small paths and roads. Next you’ll visit some wonderful new nature and typical city parks. Depending on the season you can see different kinds of plant, birds and the different colours that nature has to offer. Then you’ll walk in the historical city of Gouda, that is already there for over a 1000 years. You’ll find many traces of its history. Finally you’ll get to know the modern city of Rotterdam. The city center has been completely rebuilt after World War II, and many an architectural highlight can be found here, most recently the new train station and the covered market (Markthal). Whether it’s to your taste is another thing, but it is  certainly impressing.

Unique:

You are entering the footsteps of Erasmus on this trip. In his own words he was conceived in Gouda, born in Rotterdam. He lived in both cities and grew up to become a famous . He had humanistic ideals and would certainly approve a walking trip. You are walking station to station, so no car or bus transport is needed for this trip, and it combines a lot of different landscapes.

Day to Day

Path between Gouda and Lekkerkerk

A graaspath between Gouda and Lekkerkerk

Day 1: Gouda – Lekkerkerk (22 km)

You’ll depart from the train station of Gouda. You’ll walk past the Erasmus square, where one of his sayings is on the wall (Travellers we are in this world, not inhabitants, see the picture on this site). You’ll exit Gouda and will enter the polders of the Green Heart, where you’ll walk on small roads, grass paths, gravel paths to the village of Lekkerkerk where your hotel is. On your way, you can philosophize like Erasmus, or just enjoy your surroundings. Along with the polders and the countless canals, there are the typical Dutch skies, and many a rare birds can be found here (some seasonal, some year round). At least you’ll see many cows, who always seem to be philosophers in their way. Your hotel in Lekkerkerk has a nice garden where you can relax and have a drink after your walk.
Park in Rotterdam

The forest of Krallingen

Day 2: Lekkerkerk – Rotterdam and journey home (22 km)

Today is a day with 2 very different faces. You’ll start your walk continuing in the Green Heart, where some grass paths and gravel paths will take you to the village of Ouderkerk, where we cross the river Hollandsche IJssel with a ferry. Then some new nature and a very old road will take you slowly into the city of Rotterdam. You’ll pass through the Kralingse Bos, a very old park, and then will enter the city center, where you’ll pass the new covered market, the cubic houses, and your walk will end at the train station of Rotterdam. Before that you can take some time to enjoy the melting pot that a harbour town like Rotterdam is, while enjoying a drink in one of the many bars or restaurants.

Advice for extension

This trip can be extended in Gouda, Lekkerkerk and in Rotterdam. In Gouda we offer you a city walk, but you can also visit one of the museums or tour the canals. Rotterdam is a city that you can spend a few days in. Also here we offer you a city walk, but you can do a harbour tour, visit the wonderful  Zoo Diergaarde Blijdorp, take the elevator up the Euromast, to have a view from above on Rotterdam and surroundings. An extension in Lekkerkerk may also be worth your while. You may rent a bike and visit the Unesco site of Kinderdijk with its windmills or just cycle around the Green Heart.

Prices extension:
City 2 persons 1 person
Rotterdam €75,- €125,-
Lekkerkerk €60,- €105,-
Gouda €85,- €135,-

Price is per person pro night 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.

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