Woerdense Verlaat: Nature, Water and History

The Nieuwkoopse Plassen can be explored by boat and on foot from Woerdense Verlaat. The Nieuwkoopse Plassen are of particular importance for purple herons, green-winged orchids and northern water voles.

This makes Woerdense Verlaat the focal point of a landscape that can be experienced via waterways and hiking trails. The named animal and plant species also give this natural area a specific character.

Nature

The Oudshoornpad is an approximately 3 km-long hiking trail at Hollandsekade 23A in Woerdense Verlaat. Among other things, bluethroats and marsh harriers can be observed there among the reed beds.

The trail combines the precise location with a landscape of reed beds and an explicitly mentioned opportunity for birdwatching. During the breeding season, closure protects nesting birds.

The “Trailrun-route moerasbos & polders in Woerdense Verlaat” starts and ends at De Kievit, the foresters’ work shed of Natuurmonumenten in Woerdense Verlaat.

The “Trailrun-route moerasbos & polders in Woerdense Verlaat” is accessible only from 1 July to 1 March because of the Oudshoornpad’s spring closure to protect nesting birds.

Waterways

The Grecht runs from the Woerdense Verlaat lock to the Oude Rijn in Woerden. The Woerdense Verlaat lock connects the Grecht with the Kromme Mijdrecht; this connection created a shipping route between Woerden and Amsterdam.

The water therefore appears not only as a landscape feature, but also as a continuous connection between the named locations. The Grecht, the lock and the Kromme Mijdrecht form part of the same water connection described here.

Routes

The Waterlinie Luister Route Henrick is a 55 km-long cycling route. It leads to the Waterlinie Hoeve at Milandweg 89 in Woerdense Verlaat, where an audio story about Woerdense Verlaat is available. The story of the Waterlinie Luister Route Henrick refers to an important military post near Woerdense Verlaat. In September 1672, approximately 300 soldiers were stationed at the military post near Woerdense Verlaat.

The cycling route thus brings together a fixed route length, a named destination and a narrated story. The historical reference remains tied to the military post near Woerdense Verlaat and dates back to September 1672.

History

After being rebuilt, the Westveense Molen drained the 108-hectare Westveense Polder for almost 300 years. The Westveense Molen is regularly in operation on Saturdays and can then be visited. It is easily accessible by bicycle; a beautiful cycling route passes by it.

The mill thus preserves the connection between polder drainage and the technical structure. Its regular operation, the possibility of visiting it and the cycling route that passes by it are among the explicitly mentioned features of this place.

Other places

Other places: Nieuwkoop, Noorden, Nieuwveen, Ter Aar, Zevenhoven

To the higher-level travel overview: Nieuwkoop.