Zuidplas: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Zuidplas combines waterways, peatlands, mill landscapes, and diverse opportunities for exercise and nature observation. The Hollandsche IJssel and the Rotte run through the Zuidplas area. At the same time, it preserves traces of water management, craftsmanship, and elite sports.

Landscape

The Hollandsche IJssel runs through the Zuidplas area. The Rotte also flows as a river through a peatland and through the Zuidplas area. Another characteristic waterway is the Ringvaart. It is enclosed by peat dykes, and several polder pumping stations discharge their water into it. In this way, a polder area combines nature, elite sports, and water storage.

The landscape also includes the Green-Blue Zone in the municipality of Zuidplas. It borders Westergouwe in the municipality of Gouda directly and covers approximately 45 hectares. It was created as a nature and recreation zone. Approximately 55 percent of its area is accessible via a network of walking and cycling paths and footbridges. In the remaining peatland area, residents, walkers, and cyclists can find peace and space.

Nature

Koornmolengat is a marshy peatland with swamp forest, distinctive flora, waterfowl, and breeding cormorants. The protected area can only be visited as part of a guided tour. This means that nature observation there remains limited to an accompanied visit.

For hiking, Zuidplas lies within the Hof van Delfland hiking network, which comprises 900 kilometres of hiking trails. A particularly clearly marked route is located in Hitland Park: the 5-kilometre route is marked with green signs bearing the inscription “5KM”, and it is possible to join the route at any point.

Active pursuits

In the area of Hitland Park, there are opportunities for walking, cycling, fishing, birdwatching, canoeing, horse riding, skating, playing, and golfing. Golfbaan Hitland has an 18-hole golf course. Zuidplas also has several cycling routes that pass, among other places, historic monuments and scenic locations.

The Nieuwerkerk (Hitland) – Moordrecht – Zuidplaspolder – Nieuwerkerk cycling route is 31 kilometres long. The Zevenhuizen – Moerkapelle – Zevenhuizerplas – Zevenhuizen cycling route covers 23 kilometres. Another connection leads from Moordrecht via Moerkapelle and the Zevenhuizerplas to Nieuwerkerk and back to Moordrecht; this cycling route is 37 kilometres long.

Zuidplas can also be explored on the water in its own distinctive way. The Tour de Zuidplas takes place on the water and comprises five narrative stages, allowing Zuidplas to be experienced from its waterways. The Willem-Alexander Baan meets the international requirements of the World Rowing Federation.

Culture and history

In Zevenhuizen lies the Molenviergang in the Tweemanspolder. It consists of four mills connected one behind the other, which together regulated the polder’s water level for almost two centuries. Under the guidance of a miller, a maximum of two people can go through the procedure for starting up a mill. If there is sufficient wind, the mill is then prepared for milling.

Near Moordrecht, the Stinzentuin is located close to the Hollandsche IJssel, next to the former orphanage. Historical ships lie in the Werkhaven Hitland on the Hollandsche IJssel, most of them dating from around 1900. The river is also connected to the area’s industrial past: one of the brickworks and roof-tile factories established along the Hollandsche IJssel in the 19th century was located on the edge of Hitland-Noord below the IJsseldijk.

Places in Zuidplas

The places directly linked within Zuidplas include Nieuwerkerk Aan Den Ijssel, Moerkapelle, and Zevenhuizen.

To the main travel overview: South Holland.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Zoeterwoude, Zoetermeer, Leiden, Leiderdorp, Nederlek.