Discover Oudewater: History, Canals and Green Landscapes

Oudewater combines urban history with canals, the landscape of the Lopikerwaard and the Hollandsche IJssel.

Protected Old Town and Lopikerwaard

The old town of Oudewater is designated as a protected townscape under the Dutch heritage protection legislation. The Lopikerwaard is characterised by pollard willows, meadows, ditches and rivers. In the area around Oudewater, historic town views therefore meet a landscape whose defining features are immediately visible.

The History of Rope-Making and Museums

Rope-making is one of the town’s themes. The Touwmuseum Oudewater is located in a historic ropewalk where ropes were twisted for centuries. At the museum, visitors can smell and feel ropes and make them themselves. As a result, the material is not only presented as a historic product, but can also be experienced practically.

The Oude Touwbaan, dating from 1880, is 350 metres long and is considered Europe’s longest covered ropewalk still in operation. The site thus combines a specific year and an unusual length with Oudewater’s traditional rope production.

The Stadsmuseum Oudewater is located in the town hall. It contains a unique medieval foundation. The De Heksenwaag Museum tells the story of the witch trials in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. Together, the two museums complement the history of rope-making with other historical themes from the town.

Canals, Views and the Geelbuiken Route

On the Grachtenvaert, visitors take a guided boat tour through the canals and along the Hollandsche IJssel. Along the way, guides present monumental buildings, historic sites and remarkable stories from the town’s rich history. The tour therefore travels along waterways and through Oudewater’s historical narrative.

The tower of the Sint Michaelskerk can be climbed with a guide. From there, the view extends across Oudewater and the surrounding Groene Hart.

The 31-kilometre Geelbuiken Route is a cycling route connected to Oudewater’s rope-making industry. It tells the story from hemp to rope and passes hemp fields, the Touwfabriek and the Lange Linschoten. The 31 kilometres provide a specific framework for planning the timing of a cycling tour.

Practical Information for Your Stay

Oudewater has no railway station, but can be reached by bus from Gouda, Utrecht and Woerden, among other places. The Molenwal and Tramweg bus stops are a few minutes’ walk from the historic centre.

The Grachtenvaert operates on different days and at different times depending on the season. The landing stage is opposite the Toeristisch Informatie Punt on the Markt; tickets can be reserved online. The Touwtrein operates year-round by appointment.

The Toeristisch Informatie Punt Oudewater offers cultural and leisure packages, as well as town walks and Grachtenvaert tours. It also provides numerous walking and cycling routes, road and waterway maps, and town maps. Visitors can therefore find both information about the historic attractions and materials for routes through the surrounding area.

Further information about Papekop.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Oudewater.