Discover IJsselstein – holiday apartment among mills, churches and canals

IJsselstein combines a fortified historic town with churches, museum culture, forest paths and routes along water and meadows. In the centre, walks lead past town canals, preserved sections of the town wall and town gates. The skyline is shaped by the Korenmolen De Windotter together with the two churches. The castle tower also points to the town’s history: it is the surviving Loyertoren from the 16th century of the former IJsselstein Castle, which is described as the origin of today’s town.

Culture

The castle tower is one of the satellite locations of Museum IJsselstein for exhibitions. During the opening hours of Museum IJsselstein, it is open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m.; tower keepers are present during this time. Inside, visitors can see the elaborately brick-built spiral staircase with its ornate vaults. The museum itself presents temporary exhibitions on current issues that play a role in society. The history of IJsselstein is not told there in a traditional chronological manner, but through areas of emotion. The museum connects the development from the Iron Age to the present day with emotions such as freedom, pride and hope.

The late Gothic Oude Nicolaaskerk was built around 1307 and dedicated to Saint Nicholas in 1310. A series of organ concerts takes place there every summer. In addition, from October to June there is a half-hour Bach concert on the first Saturday of every month. On request, interested visitors can also tour the church on days other than Sunday with a guide from UIT in IJsselstein. Another prominent place of worship is the Sint Nicolaasbasiliek, a three-aisled hall church built in 1887 in the Neo-Gothic style to a design by the architect Wilhelm Victor Alfred Tepe. On 11 November 1972, it received the title of Basilica Minor. The basilica houses the image of Mary O.L.V. van Eiteren, which has been venerated for centuries and is an object of devotional worship.

The operational Korenmolen De Windotter dates from 1732 and, together with the two churches, shapes the skyline of the fortified town of IJsselstein. The fully operational mill can be visited at least five days a week, including by groups, school classes and companies. It mills wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, maize and buckwheat into flour or grist. The mill shop, with its extensive range of mill products, is also open to all visitors.

Nature and paths

The IJsselsteinse Bos is a young polder woodland area with tall poplars as well as alders, oaks and ash trees. A footbridge crosses a body of water there, while avenues and winding paths invite visitors to go walking. In autumn, apples can be picked and nuts gathered in a pick-your-own orchard. This means that different landscape elements stand side by side in the forest: a body of water, tree-lined avenues, curving paths and a seasonally usable orchard.

The nearby network of paths also extends beyond IJsselstein. The Hollandse IJsselpad connects IJsselstein, Montfoort and Oudewater and runs for large sections along former unpaved towpaths beside the historic river landscape. For cyclists, the Rondje IJsselstadjes route starts and ends at UIT in IJsselstein Tourist Info. It is approximately 33 kilometres long and runs along water and meadows through the historic towns of Oudewater, Montfoort and IJsselstein. The Waterrijk Leidsche Rijn–IJsselstein route is approximately 50 kilometres long and can be cycled in two stages, including a separate IJsselstein loop.

Water

The connection between the town’s history and water is also evident on a tour through IJsselstein. It passes numerous monuments, including a former peeling shed, the two Sint Nicolaas churches and the Korenmolen De Windotter. At TOP Marnemoende, sloops, motorboats and canoes are rented. A boat trip along the Hollandse IJssel leads from IJsselstein to the Rivers Marnemoende restaurant at Marnemoende marina; after lunch, the journey returns.

Other places in the directory: IJsselstein, De Bilt, Leusden, Woudenberg, Maarssen, Rhenen, Utrecht, Houten.

To the overarching travel overview: Utrecht.