All about water
Doorn, Wijk bij Duurstede, Tull en 't Waal
The wooded surroundings of Doorn mark the start of our exploration of the theme of water, where we discover the inseparable link between the Netherlands and water, the different functions of water, and its management. Along the way, it becomes visible how water management shapes the landscape. Near Groenestein Castle, you can see that even here ditches and gullies cut through the grassland to drain excess rainwater. Management of groundwater levels is in the hands of the water boards. They constantly have to weigh up sometimes conflicting interests. It is searching for a balance between agriculture, nature and habitation. Their work exemplifies the Netherlands' complex relationship with water, with every decision affecting the landscape and its inhabitants. Water management has many facets, from preventing floods and excessively wet farmland to ensuring sufficient irrigation. The consequences of too low groundwater levels are significant, such as the drying up of dykes, subsidence and the loss of agricultural crops. These challenges highlight how everything in our ecosystem is interconnected. Polders are a model of our interaction with water; areas where groundwater levels are artificially controlled. This ingenious approach to land reclamation shows our determination and innovation, where the term 'polder' has found global recognition. As we continue our journey, we reach the Lek, a 62-kilometre-long river. From Wijk bij Duurstede, the Lek forms the continuation of the Lower Rhine, with its origins traceable back to a crossing of a riverbank embankment around 200 BC. Shipping on the Lek increased in importance as the Kromme Rijn slowly silted up. Over the dike along the Lek, you will experience that the floodplain is sometimes narrower and sometimes wider. In winter, part of the floodplain is flooded, sometimes down to the lower summer dykes. The floodplains are partly set up as an overflow area for the large amount of water that has to be drained in a short time during the winter months. During this period, the ferries at Wijk bij Duurstede, Beusichem and Culemborg use the higher ferry docks on the banks, anchored on a long chain because of the strong currents. Did you know that much of the Randstad would flood if the Lekdijk breaches? From the air, you can see that the river has groynes on both banks. These stone 'sleepers' in the river play a crucial role in the drainage of water, ice, gravel and sand. They control this discharge, keeping the river and banks in place, essential for the navigability of the river at low tide. This cycle route takes you along the old river Lek, over the Kromme Rijn and the busy Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal. Enjoy the beautiful floodplains, the views and learn about the fascinating sights around Wijk bij Duurstede, Tull en 't Waal and Doorn. Who knows, along the way you might catch a glimpse of the buzzards, kestrels, Nile geese, storks and herons that have their natural habitat here. A route that reveals not only the landscape, but also the inseparable link between the Netherlands and water. This premium cycle route has been compiled by our editor : Margreet Feenstra.
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
|
Start: Traaij 295, 3971 GM Driebergen-Rijsenburg | 66.9 KM | |
|
From
4
to
49
|
826 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head southeast | 826 M | ||
| You are now at section 49 | 0 M | ||
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From
49
to
5
|
561 M | 0.6 KM | |
| Head southwest | 556 M | ||
| Turn left onto Arnhemsebovenweg | 5 M | ||
| You are now at section 05 | 0 M | ||
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From
5
to
88
|
2023 M | 2 KM | |
| Head southeast on Oude Arnhemse Bovenweg | 2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 88 | 0 M | ||
|
From
88
to
48
|
1049 M | 1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Oude Arnhemse Bovenweg | 490 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Oude Arnhemse Bovenweg | 559 M | ||
| You are now at section 48 | 0 M | ||
|
From
48
to
45
|
1415 M | 1.4 KM | |
| Head east on Willem de Zwijgerlaan | 76 M | ||
| Turn right onto van Bennekomweg | 461 M | ||
| Turn left onto Acacialaan | 205 M | ||
| Turn right onto Oude Woudenbergseweg | 136 M | ||
| Turn left onto Dorpsstraat | 17 M | ||
| Turn right | 15 M | ||
| Turn right | 5 M | ||
| Continue onto van Nagell-laan | 99 M | ||
| Turn right onto Frans van Dijklaan | 178 M | ||
| Turn left onto Langbroekerweg | 223 M | ||
| You are now at section 45 | 0 M | ||
|
From
45
to
8
|
1631 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head southwest on Langbroekerweg | 18 M | ||
| Turn left | 22 M | ||
| Turn right onto De Beaufortweg | 924 M | ||
| Turn right onto Buurtweg | 667 M | ||
| You are now at section 08 | 0 M | ||
|
From
8
to
9
|
1573 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head south on Sandenburgerlaan | 1.6 KM | ||
| You are now at section 09 | 0 M | ||
|
From
9
to
27
|
1332 M | 1.3 KM | |
| Head southwest on Sandenburgerlaan | 1.3 KM | ||
| You are now at section 27 | 0 M | ||
|
From
27
to
95
|
1116 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Langbroekerdijk | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 95 | 0 M | ||
|
From
95
to
13
|
1655 M | 1.7 KM | |
| Head southwest on Wijkerweg | 1.7 KM | ||
| You are now at section 13 | 0 M | ||
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From
13
to
14
|
1616 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head south on Langbroekseweg | 7 M | ||
| Keep right onto Langbroekseweg | 41 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Langbroekseweg | 581 M | ||
| Continue straight | 74 M | ||
| Turn left onto Zandweg | 512 M | ||
| Turn right | 44 M | ||
| Turn right onto Zandweg | 347 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Zandweg | 10 M | ||
| You are now at section 14 | 0 M | ||
|
From
14
to
15
|
64 M | 0.1 KM | |
| Head south on Zandweg | 64 M | ||
| You are now at section 15 | 0 M | ||
|
From
15
to
93
|
1304 M | 1.3 KM | |
| Head southwest on Singel | 1 KM | ||
| Make a slight right | 37 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Vrouwenpoortpad | 239 M | ||
| You are now at section 93 | 0 M | ||
|
From
93
to
96
|
6189 M | 6.2 KM | |
| Head southwest on Veerweg (N229) | 603 M | ||
| Turn right | 745 M | ||
| Make a slight left | 162 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Lekdijk Oost | 417 M | ||
| Turn left onto Romeinenbaan | 219 M | ||
| Turn left onto Lekdijk West | 1.4 KM | ||
| Keep right onto Lekdijk West | 1.5 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Lekdijk West | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 96 | 0 M | ||
|
From
96
to
54
|
2543 M | 2.5 KM | |
| Head west on Lekdijk West | 2.5 KM | ||
| You are now at section 54 | 0 M | ||
|
From
54
to
52
|
3724 M | 3.7 KM | |
| Head west on Lekdijk | 2 KM | ||
| Keep left onto Lekdijk | 1.8 KM | ||
| You are now at section 52 | 0 M | ||
|
From
52
to
51
|
2425 M | 2.4 KM | |
| Head west on Lekdijk | 2.4 KM | ||
| You are now at section 51 | 0 M | ||
|
From
51
to
18
|
2076 M | 2.1 KM | |
| Head northwest on Lekdijk | 2.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 18 | 0 M | ||
|
From
18
to
16
|
4881 M | 4.9 KM | |
| Head west on Lekdijk | 1.3 KM | ||
| Keep left onto Lekdijk | 1.1 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Lekdijk | 2.5 KM | ||
| You are now at section 16 | 0 M | ||
|
From
16
to
3
|
473 M | 0.5 KM | |
| Head north on Eikenlaantje | 445 M | ||
| Turn right onto Achterweg | 28 M | ||
| You are now at section 03 | 0 M | ||
|
From
3
to
14
|
2320 M | 2.3 KM | |
| Head east on Achterweg | 2.3 KM | ||
| You are now at section 14 | 0 M | ||
|
From
14
to
26
|
1051 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head northeast on Elpad | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 26 | 0 M | ||
|
From
26
to
64
|
2888 M | 2.9 KM | |
| Head southeast on Kaaidijk | 1.8 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Lange Uitweg | 17 M | ||
| Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Jonkheer Ramweg | 35 M | ||
| Exit the roundabout onto Jonkheer Ramweg | 995 M | ||
| You are now at section 64 | 0 M | ||
|
From
64
to
82
|
1408 M | 1.4 KM | |
| Head southeast on Jonkheer Ramweg | 97 M | ||
| Turn left onto Schalkwijkseweg | 1.3 KM | ||
| You are now at section 82 | 0 M | ||
|
From
82
to
66
|
440 M | 0.4 KM | |
| Head north on Schalkwijkseweg | 440 M | ||
| You are now at section 66 | 0 M | ||
|
From
66
to
47
|
137 M | 0.1 KM | |
| Head east on Poeldijk | 122 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Poeldijk | 15 M | ||
| You are now at section 47 | 0 M | ||
|
From
47
to
63
|
756 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head south on Poeldijk | 12 M | ||
| Turn left onto Schonauwenseweg | 744 M | ||
| You are now at section 63 | 0 M | ||
|
From
63
to
31
|
1173 M | 1.2 KM | |
| Head north on Tiendweg | 657 M | ||
| Turn left onto Beusichemseweg | 151 M | ||
| Turn right | 263 M | ||
| Continue onto Oostrumsdijkje | 102 M | ||
| You are now at section 31 | 0 M | ||
|
From
31
to
62
|
2292 M | 2.3 KM | |
| Head east on Oostrumsdijkje | 2.3 KM | ||
| You are now at section 62 | 0 M | ||
|
From
62
to
60
|
1381 M | 1.4 KM | |
| Head south on Achterdijk | 934 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Achterdijk | 447 M | ||
| You are now at section 60 | 0 M | ||
|
From
60
to
76
|
4769 M | 4.8 KM | |
| Head northeast on Herenstraat | 804 M | ||
| Turn right onto Otselaan | 7 M | ||
| Turn left onto Werkhovenseweg | 348 M | ||
| Continue straight | 223 M | ||
| Turn right onto Molenhoeflaan | 2.4 KM | ||
| Make a slight left onto Broekweg | 971 M | ||
| You are now at section 76 | 0 M | ||
|
From
76
to
78
|
4187 M | 4.2 KM | |
| Head northwest on Langbroekerdijk | 4.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 78 | 0 M | ||
|
From
78
to
79
|
1585 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head east on Zeisterweg | 1.4 KM | ||
| Continue right onto Stationsweg | 68 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Stationsweg | 131 M | ||
| You are now at section 79 | 0 M | ||
|
From
79
to
74
|
128 M | 0.1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Hoofdstraat | 128 M | ||
| You are now at section 74 | 0 M | ||
|
From
74
to
96
|
1576 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head northeast | 5 M | ||
| Continue onto Kees Neven brug | 32 M | ||
| Continue straight | 800 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Arnhemse Bovenweg | 122 M | ||
| Continue straight | 158 M | ||
| Turn right onto Arnhemsebovenweg | 459 M | ||
| You are now at section 96 | 0 M | ||
|
From
96
to
16
|
2108 M | 2.1 KM | |
| Head northeast | 36 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 594 M | ||
| Turn right | 65 M | ||
| Turn left | 1.4 KM | ||
| You are now at section 16 | 0 M | ||
|
From
16
to
4
|
222 M | 0.2 KM | |
| Head southeast | 7 M | ||
| Turn right onto Traaij | 215 M | ||
| You are now at section 04 | 0 M |