Discover Waddinxveen: Nature, Cycle Paths and Culture

Bentwoud is a nature and recreation area of more than 800 hectares in the municipalities of Alphen aan den Rijn and Waddinxveen. Bentwoud has 80 kilometres of walking and cycling paths, a marked 3-kilometre running route called Woudloperspad, and a mountain bike trail.

Nature and Recreation

In the ’t Weegje area, visitors can go for walks, take a boat trip, play and fish. There is a birdwatching hide overlooking a wet meadow where black-tailed godwits, redshanks and common snipe can regularly be seen in spring. The ’t Weegje area at Het Weegje 4 in Waddinxveen is accessible from sunrise to sunset and also has a bicycle rack, a seasonal toilet building open from 1 May to 1 October, and a small car park.

The Gouwebos at Lindelaantje in Waddinxveen is also open from sunrise to sunset. The Vredenburghzone has a fenced-off dog exercise area with water and play equipment for dogs; it can be reached from the Moerkapellepad. An access bridge from Plasweg leads into the Vredenburghzone.

Culture and History

The municipality of Waddinxveen presents the Waddinxveense Hefbrug as a special monument and provides its own account of its history. De Naald is a 9-metre-high and 80-centimetre-wide obelisk on a circular plateau. The monument was erected in 1947 in memory of all civilians and military personnel who died as a result of acts of war and terror since the outbreak of the Second World War.

Every year on 4 May, residents gather at the De Naald memorial for a commemoration ceremony. The Oudheidkamer is open every Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00. Open Monument Day takes place every year on the second weekend of September; in Waddinxveen, it is organised by volunteers from WadCultureel and by volunteers at the participating locations.

During Open Monument Day on 13 and 14 September, the church on Dorpstraat, the Remonstrantse Kerk on Zuidkade, the Victorkerk and the Kruiskerk were open to visitors in Waddinxveen.

Cycle Route and Townscapes

“Parel aan de Gouwe” is a 27-kilometre cycle route starting and ending at Waddinxveen Centrum railway station. Via Kerkweg, the route can be divided into a 12-kilometre northern section or a 13-kilometre southern section. The Hefbrug Waddinxveen is a route point on the “Parel aan de Gouwe” cycle route.

The “Parel aan de Gouwe” cycle route is part of the Staande Mastroute. Waddinxveen has further cultural highlights in the form of murals, poems, story benches, art routes and “De Vergeten Plek”.

Other Places

Kinderboerderij Dierendal is a petting zoo in Waddinxveen and regularly organises educational afternoons and hands-on activities.

More about the town page Waddinxveen.

To the higher-level travel overview: Waddinxveen.