Holiday apartment in Woerden: Discover history, cheese and waterways

Woerden between urban history and polder landscape

Woerden combines historical traces with a landscape shaped by waterways, meadows and established settlements. The permanent exhibition at Stadsmuseum Woerden is dedicated to the art and cultural history of Woerden and the Groene Hart. The Castellum Laurium marks a particularly early chapter in the town’s history: the Romans built it around the year 40 in what is now the town centre. At its peak, up to 500 soldiers were stationed there.

Historic buildings with their own character

One of the striking buildings is Molen De Windhond, a round stone windmill built in Woerden in 1755. It stands on one of the last remaining sections of the old town wall, thus bringing the history of milling and the town’s fortifications together in one place.

Specific visiting times apply: on Wednesday afternoons, the mill can be visited from 2 to 4 p.m. with guild-guided tours. On Saturdays, it is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the miller and operates as a working mill. Children under 12 must be accompanied; charges may apply for group tours.

Kasteel Woerden also reaches far back into the past. Construction is said to have begun in 1410, while the first documented mention dates from 1415. The Kasteel is a more than 600-year-old Rijksmonument in the historic centre of Woerden and is now used as a venue for weddings, meetings, conferences, celebrations and other special gatherings.

The Stadsmuseum complements its permanent exhibition with changing exhibitions as well as guided tours, lectures and workshops. This makes it possible to learn about the town’s history not only through individual buildings, but also through various topics and event formats.

Towers, bells and traces in the streets

During guided climbs up the Petrustoren, you tackle 142 steps in several stages. At the intermediate landings, the guide explains the history of Woerden and the tower. The ensemble also includes the Petrustoren carillon with 48 bells, which chimes every quarter of an hour. The stern of the ship Woerden 7 is displayed in the Castellum car park opposite the Petruskerk.

The Kaaspakhuis offers a distinct way to access the region’s culture. It is the only cheese warehouse still in operation in the Netherlands that can be visited. In the „Brouw je eigen kaas“ workshop, participants actively make cheese under the guidance of an expert cheesemaker.

Experience water and open landscapes

During the summer season, WSV De Greft offers group outings on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 p.m. Beginners can take a route via the Grecht or the Oude Rijn around the Singel van Woerden. This adds a waterside experience to a stay that also includes culture and culinary delights.

In the area around Woerden, the Polderroute initially follows the towpath along the Oude Rijn, recalling the former practice of towing boats. Around the picturesque village of Kockengen, an open cultural landscape characterises the route; many meadows are bird sanctuaries. Depending on your preferred pace for the day, you can combine historical discoveries, a guided activity and peaceful landscape experiences.

When choosing your holiday apartment in Woerden, this personal focus can provide useful guidance: travellers who mainly want to experience buildings and urban history will plan differently from those who wish to focus on cheese culture, water or the open polder landscape. These options and routes offer different ideas, without every holiday day having to look the same.

Other places in the area

As another place in the same area, Harmelen is worth including in your travel plans.

For the higher-level travel overview: Woerden.