Nieuwaal: A dike village, the Nywelepad and the history of the Waal

When planning a stay in Nieuwaal, the village’s linear layout along the dike and the paths through the landscape are worth keeping in mind. Tree-lined avenues and the spacious plots of characteristic farms shape the village. Other features include the Nywelepad, the Breemwaard on the Waal and historic landmarks. If you are looking for a hotel in Nieuwaal, these themes can help with your planning: walking, nature and local history each give your trip a different focus.

Walking the Nywelepad

The Nywelepad passes through the De Boterkampen nature area and the wet hay meadows of De Lieskampen. Along the route, you will encounter several distinct, clearly named landscapes. This provides a practical starting point for planning a walk: the path can be associated not only with its name, but also with the natural areas it passes through.

Beyond the Breemwaard, the Nywelepad follows the Zee(g)dijk between the village polders of Nieuwaal and Zuilichem. This section of the route connects the named landscape along the Waal with a stretch of dike between two village polders. Together with De Boterkampen and De Lieskampen, it makes for a route that encompasses several distinct place and landscape names.

Breemwaard and nature

The Breemwaard lies directly on the Waal near Nieuwaal in the Bommelerwaard. Beavers thrive in its willow-rich area. This offers nature-minded travellers two different points of interest: the Nywelepad is a route through several landscapes, while the Breemwaard focuses on the river and the wildlife there.

The Waal is not only part of the present-day landscape but also part of the village’s history. Its location and the area’s natural features can be considered separately when choosing what to visit: if you mainly want to plan a walking route, the Nywelepad is a practical starting point. If you are more interested in the connection between the river landscape and wildlife, the Breemwaard offers a focus of its own.

Plan a walking or cycling route

For a food stop, the Nywelepad passes Boerderijwinkel Brouwer farm shop, at Middelkampseweg 36 in Nieuwaal. If you plan to stop there, check the opening hours before your visit. This lets you include the stop in your plans without assuming it will be open at a particular time during the day.

Another option is the Boeren fietsroute in the Bommelerwaard. It passes through Zuilichem, Nieuwaal and Ammerzoden. This gives you two distinct activities to consider for your trip: the Nywelepad focuses on landscapes and a possible food stop, while the cycling route is defined by the three named villages. Check the current cycling route before setting off.

Local history along the Waal

For centuries, the Waal shaped life in Nieuwaal. It served as a communication route and for transporting goods and people; fishing and hunting were also among the village’s ties to the river. At times, however, the Waal was also a threat. This combination of connection, use and danger gives the river a complex role in the village’s history.

The name Nieuwaal was first mentioned in 1031. Another historic point of interest is Nieuwaal’s church: the Bishop of Paderborn donated it to Abinkhoff Abbey in Paderborn. A specific architectural landmark is the municipal monument at Jacob Ekelmansstraat 11. It is a former farm, built around 1850. The name, the church’s history and the farm thus point to different aspects of Nieuwaal’s past.

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