Holiday apartment in Montfoort – History, polders and adventure routes

Montfoort combines its location on the Hollandse IJssel with historic sites, green polder landscapes and varied adventure routes. The focus is on Montfoort itself, while nearby Linschoten adds another distinctive element with its protected village character and its own church history. Between the town, river and estate, there are both short activity options and longer routes through the surrounding area.

Landscape and nature

Landgoed Linschoten covers more than 500 hectares and is the largest contiguous estate within the Randstad. At the same time, it is a protected nature area with many special plants. TOP Landgoed Linschoten is a starting point for exploring the surrounding polders on foot, by bicycle or by boat.

A prominent connection between the two places is formed by the Engherkade. The dyke, which is more than three kilometres long, runs between Montfoort and Linschoten. The landscape there includes meadows with meadow birds such as curlews and lapwings, cows and numerous ditches. In this way, open meadows, water-rich polders and the protected estate follow one another in immediate succession.

Routes and activities

The QR-Fit and adventure route offers free outdoor activities in Montfoort and Linschoten. The Montfoort section is 3.1 kilometres long and runs through the town park and the Hofland district. The offering also includes the Waterflipper, an educational activity about animals in and around the water of Montfoort town park.

For longer distances, the Doortraproute Montfoort is a good option. The 31.3-kilometre cycling route runs through Linschoten, Montfoort and Oudewater. Along the way, it passes cheese farms, orchards and Molen De Valk in Montfoort. The route therefore combines several village landscapes and agricultural areas in a single course.

History and culture

Molen De Valk has shaped Montfoort’s townscape for more than 250 years and offers guided tours with experienced millers on Saturdays. Another way to explore the town’s history is Stadsmuseum De Knoperij: its thematic exhibitions present Montfoort’s thousand-year history. Button making was important there in the 17th and 18th centuries. The museum is also the starting point for historic town walks, which are offered on paper, digitally or with a guide.

Galerie Montfoort exhibits works by its own gallery owners as well as works by other artists. It is located in the basement of Montfoort’s former town hall, dating from 1375. The medieval Het Oude Stadhuis also formed part of the former IJsselpoort. Today, the building houses a modern restaurant and a characterful town café. Many boat visitors travelling along the Hollandsche IJssel often moor behind Stadscafé Het Oude Stadhuis for a culinary and artistic outing.

In Linschoten, today’s Grote of Sint-Janskerk stands on Kerkplein and dates from the 13th century. It was probably founded as a chapel at nearby Linschoten Castle, which has disappeared over the centuries. Kasteel Montfoort was originally built in the Middle Ages on the edge of Montfoort’s centre. To explore the preserved monuments, the Monumentenroute Montfoort booklet is available from the Toeristisch Informatiecentrum TIP De Knoperij; it contains the route and information about the monuments.

Regional specialities

The farm shop of the cheese and care farm Boerderij Doruvael sells cheese from its own farm and other regional products. During the summer months, the cheese dairy serves freshly baked apple pie, herbal tea from its own garden and toast with homemade cheese on its terrace, with views across the meadows. In this way, farm products, garden herbs and the open pasture landscape are brought together in the spotlight.

More experiences

Boer Hans’s farm has a completely renovated 18-hole miniature golf course. The offerings there also include farm games such as tug of war, drawing water from the ditch, cheese transport and wheelbarrow races. Het Beloken Land offers guided visits to a duck decoy.

To the overarching travel overview: Utrecht.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Maarssen, De Ronde Venen, Loenen, De Bilt, Bunnik, Renswoude.