Holiday apartment in Drimmelen: Biesbosch, waterways and history

Drimmelen brings together waterways, nature observation and historical traces within a compact area. The De Biesbosch National Park is particularly distinctive, a freshwater tidal wetland with expanses of water, reed landscapes and creeks. Anyone wishing to reach the national park from Drimmelen must cross the water. This can be done by renting a boat, booking a crossing or taking part in an organised excursion. From Drimmelen, the Biesbosch can also be explored by electric boat, canoe, sloop or on a sightseeing cruise. The town also has its own harbour facilities on a continuous waterway.

Nature and water

The shallow, fish-rich waters of De Biesbosch National Park attract ospreys and white-tailed eagles. Activities in the Biesbosch include beaver safaris and searching for birds in the early morning hours. Biesbosch Museum Island and Biesboschcentrum are starting points for discovering the Biesbosch. This means that, alongside the expanses of water, there are also specific starting points for nature observation and exploration, without limiting the landscape to a single experience.

Water-shaped landscapes also characterise the surroundings beyond the national park. Gat van de Ham is the remnant of an old area of creeks south of the River Amer. The area is suitable for walking and cycling. The De Grote Zonzeelse Polder nature reserve is used by birdwatchers and walkers and is home to 150 different bird species.

Routes and landscape

The municipality of Drimmelen has an extensive junction network for walkers and cyclists. The cycle path over the Amerdijk runs from the village of Drimmelen to Lage Zwaluwe and offers views of the surrounding area. In the same direction, Het Beverpad runs from Lage Zwaluwe to Drimmelen. Another route is the Geluksroute: it leads to six places selected by residents of the municipality of Drimmelen as locations that make them particularly happy.

The Geluksroute passes through open polder landscapes, along monumental lines of dikes and beside the water. This brings different landscape elements together directly along the routes: open spaces, historic dikes and waterside areas. Each of the routes mentioned forms its own connection through the area, from the Amerdijk between the village and the district to the course of the Beverpad between Lage Zwaluwe and Drimmelen.

History and culture

The Kleine Schans Terheijden was built in 1639 to protect shipping on the Mark and the Breda–Moerdijk connection. There is a pleasant walking trail at the Kleine Schans Terheijden. The distinctive earthworks and ditches of the Linie van de Munnikenhof are also part of the historic landscape; they formed part of the Zuiderfrontier. The Linie van de Munnikenhof is accessible at all times and is now a 42-hectare nature reserve suitable for cycling and walking.

In Oud Drimmelen, the Oude Begraafplaats preserves the outer walls of a medieval church that was demolished in 1793. The Protestantse kerk Drimmelen is a village church on the Herengracht and serves as a place of worship for the Protestant congregation of Drimmelen. The Historisch Haventje was created by the Saint Elizabeth flood of 1421. Terheijden is also home to the Eendenkooi Terheijden, a historic duck decoy probably established in 1639.

Mills and local tradition

Terheijden is home to Molen De Arend, an active grain mill built in 1742 where grain is still milled. Molen De Arend can be visited and has a shop offering more than 30 varieties of bread flour as well as an equal number of baking mixes for cakes and tarts.

Another local tradition can be experienced at Dorpsbrouwerij Terheijden. The brewery welcomes visitors on brewing days and offers beer tastings at events. Under supervision, visitors can make traditionally brewed beer themselves; no prior brewing knowledge is required. Hooge Zwaluwe is also home to Molen Zeldenrust, a Dutch gallery-style windmill in the Dutch municipality of Drimmelen in the province of Noord-Brabant.

The directly linked places in the municipality are Made, Wagenberg, Drimmelen, Lage Zwaluwe, Terheijden and Hooge Zwaluwe. Further destinations can be accessed via Roosendaal and Alphen-Chaam.

For the broader travel overview: North Brabant.