Discover Abbenbroek: Holiday Rental, Village Centre, Church and Bernisse

Townscape

The historic centre of Abbenbroek is designated as a protected town or village view. Its old centre is characterised by a ring of houses, mostly dating from the 17th century, running around a former harbour basin. The harbour basin has been preserved as a body of water in the centre of the village. The historic buildings and the body of water therefore lie within the same village centre and can be experienced together on a walk.

Culture and History

The choir of the Sint Aegidiuskerk is an example of Scheldt Gothic and dates from around 1300. A chapter was founded in 1483; in 1491, the Sint Aegidiuskerk was elevated to a collegiate church. The church is also known as the Dorpskerk of Abbenbroek. Its pulpit acquired its present form in 1613. Several historical periods can therefore be read side by side in the church: the medieval choir, its elevation to a collegiate church and the later preserved form of the pulpit.

Another historic building is the Ambachtsherenhuis in Abbenbroek. Several thick walls are located on the ground floor in the deep right-hand section of the house. They probably date from before the 17th century. In the 19th century, the Ambachtsherenhuis was referred to as the “hunting lodge” of the Lord of Abbenbroek. The thick walls therefore provide a different indication of time from the later designation of the house: their construction is dated to before the 17th century, while the term “hunting lodge” is recorded for the 19th century.

On 5 February 2025, both fully restored Potroeden of the De Hoop mill were put back in place. Shortly afterwards, the mill was able to grind again. The mill thus adds to the historic evidence provided by the church, village centre and manor house a building whose most recent mentioned development is connected with the restoration of the two Potroeden.

Nature and Trails

The walking routes in the Bernisse area begin at an information board on the meadow at the level of the De Buishoek car park in Abbenbroek. Anyone wishing to use this starting point will find the information board on the meadow by the aforementioned car park; the routes thus connect directly to Abbenbroek and the Bernisse area.

From Abbenbroek, the Willemien-Hoogwerf cycling route follows the former Bernisse towards Zuidland. The route connects the village with a section along the former river course and indicates Zuidland as the direction.

Routes and Regional Products

The “Proeven uit de polder” cycling route, which passes through Abbenbroek, runs past farms where products are sold directly from the farm. On this route, the farms and the direct sale of products are explicitly mentioned features.

For other places in the Bernisse area, see Simonshaven, Oudenhoorn, Zuidland and Heenvliet.

For the higher-level travel overview: Bernisse.