Haastrecht between Polder History and Historic Routes
Accommodation in Haastrecht
Culture and History
In the built-up area of Haastrecht stands the De Hooge Boezem achter Haastrecht complex. Because of its cultural-historical and water-management significance, it has been designated as a representative and rare pumping station from the third quarter of the 19th century. Haastrecht is one of the five protected town and village conservation areas in the municipality of Krimpenerwaard. Haastrecht has 68 Rijksmonumenten, meaning nationally protected historic buildings in the Netherlands. The former De Hooge Boezem achter Haastrecht area was established as a water storage facility in 2015.
The Paulina Bisdom van Vliet Museum is an atmospheric, authentically furnished house museum in Haastrecht. The house is still furnished as it was when it was inhabited and offers insights into the lives of wealthy families in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The De Hooge Boezem achter Haastrecht Polder Museum contains original machinery and equipment in the pumping house. Its permanent exhibition presents the history of the local peat pasture landscape. The Oude Schoolhuis in Haastrecht is an old schoolhouse dating from 1671; it was extensively expanded in 1767 as a French-language boarding school.
The Nederlands Hervormde Kerk in Haastrecht is a late Gothic cruciform church. Only the short nave, transept, and tower remain of the church. The Bisdom Van Vliet Orangery was built around 1800 and retains its original orangery windows at the rear. The artwork De Schaatsers at a roundabout in Haastrecht consists of two speed skater silhouettes made of Corten steel, represents Haastrecht's skating culture, and refers to the successful Haastrecht speed-skating champions Hein Vergeer and Leo Visser from the 1980s and 1990s.
The history of the town is thus reflected in its buildings, preserved interiors, and public artworks. The furnishings from the period when it was inhabited have been preserved in the house museum, while original machinery and equipment in the pumping house illustrate the area's water-management history. The Oude Schoolhuis combines its origins in 1671 with the later expansion into a French-language boarding school. The church preserves parts of its late Gothic cruciform layout, and the orangery retains a detail of the complex dating from around 1800 through its original windows.
Landscape and Routes
The Overtuin Bisdom van Vliet is originally an 18th-century park featuring various garden styles. The park is open to the public and free of charge. The Molenvliet Route passes through the historic Overtuin Bisdom van Vliet park. If you are planning to take the Molenvliet Route, note the breeding season from March to July: the route is not accessible during this period. The Grote Zilverreiger Route follows historic paths through pastureland. It runs along a winding peat river and ends in a centuries-old park woodland.
For further orientation and to continue planning your personal trip, you can also find the town of Vlist here.
Water
From Haastrecht, you can take SUP tours and attend SUP courses.
To the higher-level travel overview: Vlist.
