Heerewaarden between the Maas and Waal

Heerewaarden lies on a sandy deposit between the Maas and Waal. The De Grote Rivieren visitor center is an information point for the river region. The area around the center is suitable for walking through nature, along rivers and dikes, in floodplains and at historic sites. When planning an outing, you can therefore take in both the landscape and local history. This combination of river scenery, trails and historic traces gives Heerewaarden a distinctive character for a stay.

Walking between dikes and historic sites

The Rondje Heerewaarden starts at the De Grote Rivieren visitor center and passes along dikes and by fortifications. The walking route also runs through Noorderhoek, a street with distinctive fishermen’s houses. This named circular route brings together landscape features and a distinctive streetscape. The route may change; check the current route before setting out.

At the visitor center, you can find out about walking opportunities in Heerewaarden and the surrounding area, starting from five kilometers. If you are planning a walk of this length or more, you can use the center as a starting point for further information.

Cycling and river crossings

The Fort-Sint-Andries Route has a different focus: it is a 35-kilometer cycling route along dikes and cycle paths. Along the way, you cross the Maas by ferry twice. This is a practical consideration for anyone thinking of taking a cycling trip that includes river crossings. Since routes and conditions can change and ferries operate seasonally, check the route and the crossings you need before setting out.

Another river crossing is provided by the Varik–Heerewaarden foot and bicycle ferry: it crosses the Waal between the two towns and operates from April to October. Check the timetable before your trip, as seasonal operating details may change.

Traces of the former fishing industry

The former fishing industry can also be seen in specific details around the town. Veerstraat 13 is an old fishermen’s house, identified by a façade stone depicting a pike above the door. At the corner of Veerstraat and Maasstraat, fishing nets were preserved with resin in the Toanhut. A staircase leads to the harbor of the former river fishing fleet.

These features served different purposes: the façade stone identifies a residential building, the Toanhut represents the preservation of nets, and the harbor points to the former fleet. Together, these traces of buildings, craftsmanship and river fishing form part of the town’s history.

Which type of outing should you choose?

The mode of travel and the stated distance are the clearest differences when choosing a route. The Rondje is a walking route starting at the visitor center; you can also get information there about walking opportunities of five kilometers or more. The Fort-Sint-Andries Route, by contrast, is a 35-kilometer cycling route that includes two Maas ferry crossings. The Waal ferry between Varik and Heerewaarden is a separate seasonal connection for pedestrians and cyclists. This makes it possible to plan a walk, cycling trip and river crossing separately.

Discover more destinations: Hedel, Alem, Kerkdriel, Ammerzoden, Well, Rossum, Hurwenen.

Return to the main travel overview: Maasdriel.