The Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie (New Dutch Waterline) is a unique fortification from the 19th century that was designed to protect our country from enemy attacks. The idea was to flood large areas of land in case of imminent enemy attacks. But the defence line did not only consist of flooding land, forts, fortresses and other defences were also built. Fort Altena, Fort Giessen and Fort Vuren are still fine examples. Remarkably, these forts were built in a relatively short time and many innovative techniques were also used to build and defend them. One of the most important defences of the waterline was the Vesting Gorinchem, a beautiful old town surrounded by ramparts, with many beautiful old buildings and streets. Woudrichem Fortress also has a rich history. In the Middle Ages it was the capital of the Land of Altena and in the 80-year war it was the battleground between the Beggars and the Spanish. All these fascinating parts of the New Dutch Waterline come together in this instructive cycle route through what is also a beautiful river area. So hop on your bike, get wiser and enjoy!
Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
Start: Kerkstraat , 4285 AC Altena | 36.8 KM | ||
From
33
to
74
|
2102 M | 2.1 KM | |
Head southeast on Schapendam | 796 M | ||
Turn left onto Hoge Maasdijk | 1.3 KM | ||
You are now at section 74 | 0 M | ||
From
74
to
71
|
2481 M | 2.5 KM | |
Head southeast on Maasdijk | 205 M | ||
Make a slight right onto Dorpstraat | 65 M | ||
Make a slight left onto Van Ballegooijenhof | 303 M | ||
Turn right onto Rijswijksesteeg | 142 M | ||
Make a slight right | 55 M | ||
Turn left | 38 M | ||
Turn right | 21 M | ||
Make a slight right onto Rijswijksesteeg | 1.7 KM | ||
You are now at section 71 | 0 M | ||
From
71
to
56
|
6175 M | 6.2 KM | |
Head southwest on Uitwijksestraat | 123 M | ||
Turn left onto Langstraat | 260 M | ||
Turn right onto Zevenmorgenpad | 799 M | ||
Make a sharp right onto Langs de Wijde Almpad | 910 M | ||
Turn left onto Poortweg | 1.7 KM | ||
Continue straight | 7 M | ||
Turn right onto Almweg | 585 M | ||
Turn left onto Sjersestraat | 273 M | ||
Turn right onto Kerkstraat | 290 M | ||
Turn left onto Brugstraat | 270 M | ||
Turn right onto Emmikhovenseweg | 965 M | ||
You are now at section 56 | 0 M | ||
From
56
to
40
|
3666 M | 3.7 KM | |
Head northwest on Provincialeweg Zuid | 293 M | ||
Make a slight left onto Provincialeweg Noord | 404 M | ||
Make a slight right | 62 M | ||
Make a slight left | 44 M | ||
Make a slight right onto Provincialeweg Noord | 2.9 KM | ||
You are now at section 40 | 0 M | ||
From
40
to
25
|
2034 M | 2 KM | |
Head northwest on Provincialeweg Noord | 771 M | ||
Turn left onto Tol | 550 M | ||
Continue onto Schans | 713 M | ||
You are now at section 25 | 0 M | ||
From
25
to
23
|
1152 M | 1.2 KM | |
Head northwest on Schans | 751 M | ||
Turn right onto Werkensedijk | 84 M | ||
Turn right to stay on Werkensedijk | 317 M | ||
You are now at section 23 | 0 M | ||
From
23
to
80
|
3833 M | 3.8 KM | |
Head east on Monnikenhoef | 337 M | ||
Turn right onto Richter | 12 M | ||
Turn left onto Monnikenhoef | 663 M | ||
Turn right onto Vijcie | 1.4 KM | ||
Turn left onto Robijnsweg | 446 M | ||
Turn right onto Kerkeinde | 805 M | ||
Turn left | 159 M | ||
You are now at section 80 | 0 M | ||
From
80
to
31
|
1429 M | 1.4 KM | |
Head east on Kerkeinde | 343 M | ||
Make a slight left | 737 M | ||
Continue onto Hoekeinde | 171 M | ||
Make a slight right | 178 M | ||
You are now at section 31 | 0 M | ||
From
31
to
78
|
1748 M | 1.7 KM | |
Head southeast on Hoekeinde | 1.7 KM | ||
You are now at section 78 | 0 M | ||
From
78
to
32
|
1837 M | 1.8 KM | |
Head east on Merwededijk | 293 M | ||
Make a slight left onto Groenendijk | 376 M | ||
Continue straight | 594 M | ||
Turn left onto Stadshaven | 49 M | ||
Turn right | 431 M | ||
Continue onto Waterpoort | 94 M | ||
You are now at section 32 | 0 M | ||
From
32
to
50
|
2517 M | 2.5 KM | |
Head northeast | 16 M | ||
Take the ferry Gorinchem - Woudrichem | 2.5 KM | ||
Continue straight | 38 M | ||
You are now at section 50 | 0 M | ||
From
50
to
23
|
603 M | 0.6 KM | |
Head northeast on Buiten de Waterpoort | 110 M | ||
Turn left onto Tolsteeg | 68 M | ||
Turn right onto Molenstraat | 16 M | ||
Turn left onto Krabsteeg | 80 M | ||
Turn right onto Boerenstraat | 329 M | ||
You are now at section 23 | 0 M | ||
From
23
to
22
|
346 M | 0.3 KM | |
Head north on Haarstraat | 291 M | ||
Turn left onto Arkelstraat | 55 M | ||
You are now at section 22 | 0 M | ||
From
22
to
50
|
672 M | 0.7 KM | |
Head east on Walstraat | 189 M | ||
Turn right onto Havendijk | 483 M | ||
You are now at section 50 | 0 M | ||
From
50
to
25
|
3881 M | 3.9 KM | |
Head southeast on Robberstraat | 87 M | ||
Turn left onto Kalkhaven | 61 M | ||
Turn right to stay on Kalkhaven | 322 M | ||
Turn right onto Dalembolwerk | 294 M | ||
Turn right onto Dalemsedijk | 3.1 KM | ||
You are now at section 25 | 0 M | ||
From
25
to
24
|
1212 M | 1.2 KM | |
Head east on Waaldijk | 206 M | ||
Continue slight right | 142 M | ||
Take the ferry Slot Loevestijn - Fort Vuren | 740 M | ||
Continue left | 124 M | ||
You are now at section 24 | 0 M | ||
From
24
to
33
|
1137 M | 1.1 KM | |
Head southwest on Schouwendijk | 633 M | ||
Continue straight | 30 M | ||
Take the ferry Voet-fietsveer Woudrichem | 147 M | ||
Continue straight | 23 M | ||
Continue straight | 304 M | ||
You are now at section 33 | 0 M |