The Betuwe and the Nederrijn
Eck en Wiel lies on the Nederrijn, directly opposite Amerongen on the Utrecht side. A ferry crosses the river here, putting the Utrechtse Heuvelrug within cycling distance. Behind the dike the Betuwe begins, with its fruit growing. In April and May the orchards are in blossom.
In spring the Betuwe blossoms: first the cherries, then the pears and the apples.
The small town of Buren, a few kilometres away, has a historic centre and a link with the House of Orange, which you can see at Museum Buren & Oranje. Every September the Fruitcorso parades through Tiel, with floats made of fruit and vegetables.
The Bommelerwaard
Between the Waal and the Maas lies the Bommelerwaard, with Zaltbommel as its main town. Aalst and Kerkdriel are here, on the Maas side. At the western tip, where the Maas and the Waal meet, stands Loevestein Castle. Hugo Grotius was imprisoned there until he escaped in a book chest in 1621. Near Ammerzoden stands Ammersoyen Castle, a moated castle from the fourteenth century.
Tip
Zaltbommel is a well-preserved fortified town, with ramparts, a harbour on the Waal and the Sint-Maartenskerk, whose tower rises above the surrounding land.
Who does Rivierenland suit?
- Cyclists: the dike roads are flat and the routes along the rivers are long
- Anyone who wants to be near water, without the crowds of the coast
- Lovers of castles and fortified towns
- Anyone who wants to see the blossom in spring
Less suitable if you are looking for forest and heath; the Veluwe or the Utrechtse Heuvelrug are better for that. And the choice is small, with a handful of parks.
When to go
April and May are the months for blossom in the Betuwe. In summer you can swim in the lakes and go boating on the rivers. September brings the Fruitcorso in Tiel and fruit on the trees. In winter the water can run high. The floodplains then flood, and you see how the river country works.
