Gorinchem: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Fortified City on the Linge and Merwede

Where the Linge and the Merwede meet lies Gorinchem. The city is one of the six fortresses of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie and part of the Vestingdriehoek. In this network, Gorinchem, Woudrichem, Zaltbommel, Slot Loevestein and Fort Vuren are connected by waterways and ferries.

The fortifications of Gorinchem had eleven bastions and four gates: Arkelpoort, Kanselpoort, Waterpoort and Dalempoort. Construction began in 1584 and was completed in 1642. The five-kilometre-long fortification walls offer views over the rivers. The five-kilometre-long Wandelpad over de vestingwallen walking trail runs along them. A self-guided tour by Vesting Gorinchem provides information about the individual locations via a walking guide or the izi.travel app.

History and Culture

The Gorcums Museum presents the history of Gorinchem and covers contemporary art in the former town hall on the Grote Markt. Its collection comprises thousands of special objects and works of art that illustrate the history of Gorinchem. The museum can be reached on foot from Gorinchem railway station in about 15 minutes. For visitors with reduced mobility, it has a lift, an accessible toilet and a wheelchair.

The Hendrick Hamel Museum is wheelchair accessible; all floors can be reached by passenger lift. The exhibitions focus on Hendrick Hamel, the 17th century, Korea or Gorinchem. The collection is predominantly historical, maritime and Korean in nature. A copy can also be viewed in the museum.

Several distinctive buildings shape the historic city. Including its spire, the Sint Janstoren is 61.5 metres high. The Grote Toren is a late-medieval tower that belonged to the Catholic St. Maartenskerk in 1572. It can be climbed and offers a view from above. In addition to church services, the Grote Kerk is also used for commemorative events, exhibitions, concerts and other cultural and social activities that are compatible with the church building.

Harbour, Mill and City Centre

The fortified city is home to the Nooit Volmaakt mill, a round, stone windmill on one of the bastions of the Gorinchem fortress. It was built in 1718. The mill shop of Molen Nooit Volmaakt sells grain and flour products, mill bread and fresh regional products.

The historic harbour is also part of the cityscape. On the edge of the city centre, near the Korenmolen Nooit Volmaakt, it has permanent berths for historic ships. These include the ship Jan de Sterke, a sailing monument built in 1913. Behind the Hamelhuis, there is a Korean garden in the centre of Gorinchem.

The shopping quays of the Lingehaven are located on the side of the shopping streets behind Langendijk and Kortendijk, between Peterbrug and Korenbrug. In the Kruitmagazijnen, changing exhibitions display modern art objects, photographs, jewellery, textiles, glass art and ceramics.

Routes and Water

The Gorinchem–Woudrichem foot and bicycle ferry operates year-round according to a fixed timetable. In Gorinchem, you can go boating, go stand-up paddleboarding or swim; you can also walk along the river. Rondje Pontje 30 km is a 30-kilometre leisure tour.

The combination of fortification walls, waterways and cultural sites thus encompasses different forms of movement: a walk along the river, the Wandelpad over de vestingwallen, the Rondje Pontje 30 km leisure tour and the year-round ferry to Woudrichem.

To the overarching travel overview: South Holland.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Middelharnis, Westvoorne, Ouderkerk, Rotterdam, Rijnwoude, Noordwijk, Lansingerland.