Holiday apartment in Nieuwegein among forts, waterways and culture

Fort Vreeswijk and the Plofsluis are historic reference points of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie in Nieuwegein. The present-day Fort Vreeswijk dates from 1855 and, together with the fortified rampart, was an important part of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie. The Plofsluis has been a Rijksmonument since 2014 and has cultural and historical value as part of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie.

Fort heritage and the history of the Waterlinies

A cycle bridge along the Plofsluis was opened in 2015, restoring the historic route between Houten and Nieuwegein. Along this route, the restored path connects with the historic structure at the Plofsluis. The Hollandse Waterlinies information centre at Fort Vreeswijk gives visitors an overview of tourist highlights in the immediate area. It presents the history of the Waterlinies through illustrations and an interactive game in which you take on the role of a commander. This allows a visit to the fort to be combined with an explanatory station and a section of the route.

Art and history in different forms

The Oudegeinse Poldermolen is a working post mill and is open every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon. The Buitenmuseum comprises 54 special sculptures and works of art throughout Nieuwegein; a digital sculpture route is available. The permanent exhibition at Museum Warsenhoeck is called “Timeline” and reaches back approximately 300,000 years. The regular opening afternoons of the polder mill provide a specific time frame. The digital route distributes the works of art throughout the city, while the “Timeline” at Museum Warsenhoeck offers a temporal perspective reaching far back into the past.

Vreeswijk is Nieuwegein’s historic boatmen’s village; there, you can walk along the water past quay walls, bridges, locks and old buildings. Museumwerf Vreeswijk offers boat tours during which you can experience the history of the distinctive locks and waterways along which the region developed over the centuries. During the walk, the focus remains on the waterfront and the buildings, while the tour makes the waterways themselves the setting. The walk and the tour therefore have different emphases: the waterfront and buildings in one case, and the locks and waterways in the other.

Holiday apartment in Nieuwegein: culture, water and family time

Stadspark Oudegein offers various routes for cycling, walking and boating, as well as several bodies of water, including a large central pond. On and around Fort Jutphaas, you can walk or run by the water, visit historic buildings, cross two bridges and take a circuit around the fortified island. At Plek aan de Kade, electric whisper boats and kayaks can be rented in summer.

Another specific place in Nieuwegein is Kinderboerderij IJsselstee, where visitors have access to the goat meadow. For planning your visit, the differences between the offerings are specific: the polder mill opens on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons, boat rental at Plek aan de Kade is available in summer, and the digital sculpture route accompanies the art throughout the city.

For the broader travel overview: Nieuwegein.