Holiday apartment in Maasdriel: Water, Castles and Riverside Trails

Maasdriel combines bodies of water, river landscapes, historic sites and paths through the floodplains. In Kerkdriel, De Zandmeren offers a beach, sunbathing lawn, toilets, opportunities for fishing and swimming, as well as places to eat and drink. A hand-operated ferry also provides access to an approximately four-kilometre circular route around the bodies of water there.

Water and hiking

At the western edge of the municipality, Strandbad Well is situated on an arm of the Afgedamde Maas. There are opportunities for swimming and surfing, toilet facilities during the summer months, and ample parking. Also connected to the waterside area is the artwork “Blote keien” at De Zandmeren: Seven distinctive groups of stones tell stories about nature and form part of an art trail for adults and children.

The Piekenwaard connects to the hiking trail from Alem. It has been made accessible to hikers with gates, stiles, information signs, a staircase in the dike and fencing; the parking facilities have also been improved. On the Eiland van Alem, an approximately three-kilometre hiking trail runs between De Steeg and St. Odradastraat.

The eleven-kilometre Baanbrekerpad runs through the countryside around Ammerzoden and Well. The route passes through a landscape with levee ridges, former riverbeds, remnants of earlier dike breaches and defensive structures. The trail is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs; waterproof, sturdy footwear is recommended.

Nature and history

The Maasheggen hedgerows have been reconstructed in the floodplains, and new hawthorn bushes have been planted. They provide a habitat for special plant and animal species. In Rossum, the stork centre with around 20 nests remains active and participates, among other things, in STORK’s annual stork count. The Zandslagenpad leads through the Slingerbos, where Rossum Castle stood from the 13th century onwards; today, the area is home mainly to diverse flora and fauna.

In the centre of Rossum lies Slot Rossum, popularly also known as “the castle”. The building features an eclectic style with battlements, Gothic-style windows and a moat. Behind the castle, a path leads through the Slingerbos to the dike, offering views over the Waal. In Ammerzoden stands the Ruïnekerk, also known as the Hervormde kerk. It has been a ruin since the 17th century, is located in a natural setting surrounded by tall trees and, because of its elevated position, served as a refuge during floods.

Castles and museums

Kasteel Ammersoyen is a medieval castle with four towers, a large knights’ hall and a moat. The castle can be visited independently, as part of a guided tour or during an event. Visitors can walk freely through the castle and see the tower rooms, the women’s quarters, the armoury, the dungeon and the brewery cellar. In the Schervenlab, volunteers and archaeologists piece together thousands of fragments found in the moat; visitors may be able to take part.

The Driels Museum presents five authentic displays, including a school, a mayor’s room, a shop and a kitchen, illustrating everyday life in the past; hundreds of objects are also on display. The reconstructed grocer’s shop display uses the shop fittings from Gebr. De Gier on the Maasbanddijk opposite the ferry house.

The Historisch Museum Hedel is located in Hedel’s former town hall, a building dating from 1883. The collection includes objects from the period of the first settlement of the old Hatalle or Hedilla, archaeological finds from the excavated remains of Hedel’s former castle, as well as historical prints, topographical maps, coins and coin dies. A total of twelve brigade members were killed in the fighting on 23 and 25 April. The Battle of Hedel was subsequently described as the last battle on Dutch soil.

Cycling and regional routes

IJsboerderij De Schoonheuvel is located directly on the Rivierenland cycling network between junctions 12 and 60; electric bicycles can be charged there. Activities on offer include farmer’s golf, football golf, canoe trips, ice-cream outings and horse-drawn wagon rides. There is also traditionally made ice cream produced from the milk of the farm’s own cows.

The 72-kilometre Bommelse dijken cycling route starts at the De Zandmeren recreational area and from there follows the dikes through the Bommelerwaard. The 56-kilometre Bommelerwaardse Veerpontjesroute starts at Van Gent Watersport, includes ferry crossings, passes through Ammerzoden and goes past the old Fort Sint Andries.

Local products

The Aardbei & Zo shop is open from mid-April to October on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to strawberries, it sells juices and preserves, among other products, as well as blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and cherries, depending on availability.

Other places

Other local pages about Maasdriel: Rossum, Hurwenen, Kerkdriel, Ammerzoden, Hedel, Alem, Well, Heerewaarden.

To the main travel overview: Gelderland.