Dongen, Geertruidenberg, Rijen

Much of this cycle route takes you along the Donge, a lowland stream. Such a stream has no source, but is created by groundwater and rain merging together. Naturally, Dongen owes its name to this stream, which flows into the Wilhelmina Canal here.

Geertruidenberg, in a bend of the Donge, is an old fortified town that is definitely worth stopping for. You'll find plenty of art and beautiful old buildings here. The centuries-old Geertruidskerk, for instance, towers above the town and the small houses stand close and sometimes a bit crooked to each other.

The name Made comes from Die Meede, or Geertruidenberg's city meadow. In 1346, houses were allowed to be built here and a village came into being. Made now has more inhabitants than Geertruidenberg and belongs to the municipality of Drimmelen.