Holiday apartment in Werkendam – Nature, Water and Forts

Werkendam between the Biesbosch and a history of fortifications

A holiday apartment in Werkendam is an interesting choice if you would like to combine experiences in nature with cultural history. Biesbosch MuseumEiland is dedicated to the nature, history and stories of the unique freshwater tidal area De Biesbosch. There are also historic forts, distinctive landscape art and routes through creeks, islands and pollarded willow groves. This allows you to plan your days in many different ways: with museum experiences, a cycling tour, a trip on the water or a walk through landscapes full of character.

Holiday apartment in Werkendam for nature experiences in the Biesbosch

Biesbosch MuseumEiland can be reached by train and bicycle; a 10 km cycling route leads there from Dordrecht Centraal station. The interactive “Biesboschbeleving” helps you find your way around the area: it is a 30-by-30-metre scale model featuring polders, dikes and waterways. On the other side of the water, opposite Biesbosch MuseumEiland, is the free open-air museum Buitenmuseum de Pannekoek. Its unpaved paths lead past a funnel trap from a duck decoy, a beaver lodge and a “Schrankkeet”. The Buitenmuseum also brings the culture of pollarded willow groves and reed cultivation to life through the world of former willow workers, a profession that has since died out. A Fluistertocht with a museum ticket combines a museum visit with a trip in an electric whisper boat through narrow creeks and ditches to particularly beautiful places in the Biesbosch.

Historic forts around Werkendam

Fort Altena is a historic fort in Werkendam and part of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built between 1847 and 1850 and is the oldest of the four Brabant forts in this line. The round, bombproof tower built from heavy masonry formed the core of Fort Altena, which dates from 1847. Fort Altena served to defend the approaches to the Rijksstraatweg from Breda to Gorinchem and the Uppelse Dijk. Fort Steurgat, a historic pentagonal fortification from 1881–1882, is located on the edge of De Biesbosch National Park near Werkendam. It was part of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie and served to defend the Merwede and the Steurgat. Fort Steurgat is not freely accessible; however, guided tours are offered on Open Monument Day.

Cycling routes, pollarded willow groves and landscape art

The 23.4 km Fietsroute Biesbosch runs along creeks, islands and overgrown pollarded willow groves through the Biesbosch. The “Rondje Jantjesplaat - Deeneplaat” circular route passes through the older part of the Jantjesplaat, which consists of an overgrown willow forest with abundant dense undergrowth. The newer part of the Jantjesplaat was formed after flooding in the 1990s. In the eastern part of the Deeneplaat are pollarded willow groves that have been maintained for centuries. If the “Rondje Jantjesplaat - Deeneplaat” circular route starts at Biesbosch MuseumEiland, it is 21.8 km long. The landscape artwork “De wassende maan” by Paul de Kort, in the form of a labyrinth, is also located on the Bandijk in the northern corner of the Noordwaard. The landscaped hill at “Wassende Maan” serves as a viewpoint.

Waterways and choosing your holiday location practically

Jachthaven Van Oversteeg in Werkendam is a starting point for exploring De Biesbosch National Park. There you can rent canoes, SUPs, sloops or electric whisper boats to discover the picturesque creeks and islands. On the Fietsroute Galeiweg, the route passes Fort Steurgat; along the way, you can shop in Werkendam and finish at Biesbosch MuseumEiland with coffee, lunch or information about the history of the Biesbosch. When choosing your holiday apartment or holiday home in Werkendam, it is therefore worth considering the excursions you would like to take and the pace you prefer.

Discover more destinations

More destinations for planning your trip: Dussen, Nieuwendijk, Hank, Sleeuwijk.

To the higher-level travel overview: Werkendam.