De Heen: Trails, Water Landscapes and Hotels

De Heen combines a landscape shaped by water and dikes with historic sluices, walking trails and a long village history. There are different ways to plan your trip: explore trails on foot, choose a cycling route through several places, or focus on water-management structures and cultural heritage. The following places and activities each offer a different perspective—from views of the former tidal landscape to the stained-glass windows of a church.

A Landscape Between Polders and Water

The De Heensche Polder was drained in 1610. Its dikes also withstood the 1953 flood disaster. These dates give the landscape a history that is visible not only in individual structures, but also in the work required to manage the land and water.

Another kind of change can be traced at the Dintelse Gorzen. These wetlands were once affected by the tides. After the Philipsdam was closed in 1987, the Krammer-Volkerak changed from a salty tidal sea into a freshwater lake with a constant water level. Today, the Gorzen are an internationally significant bird area. Wide and narrow creeks run through the former tidal landscape, making its past character tangible. Nature enthusiasts can explore this transformation alongside the area's importance as a bird habitat.

Choosing Walks and Cycle Routes

The Waterpoort Ommetje – De Heen is not marked on the ground and can only be followed using the app. At each location, you can listen to explanations recorded by residents. The app therefore serves both as a guide and as a way to access local stories; keep this requirement in mind when planning your trip.

The Ommetje Vlietpolder starts at the harbor in De Heen, follows the Steenbergsche Vliet and passes through the Vlietpolder. The Heense Dijkenroute, by contrast, is a 31.5-kilometer cycling route through the dike landscape of Steenbergen, Nieuw-Vossemeer and De Heen. It follows the Dutch cycling node network and can be started at any point. The two routes therefore differ not only in how you travel, but also in their courses: one follows the Vliet and passes through the polder, while the other is a cycling loop through the dike landscape of three places.

Natuurpoort Benedensas is a starting point for hikes, canoe trips, boat trips in a sloep and cycling tours. There is a walking trail in the Dintelse Gorzen created by Natuurmonumenten. The options therefore cover several ways to spend time outdoors; your choice will depend above all on the activity you want and the route that interests you.

Sluices, Building History and Views

The historic Benedensas sluice complex is located at the mouth of the Steenbergsche Vliet and is one of the Netherlands' notable monumental water-management structures. Next to the complex is an old World War II bunker, which now houses the information center for the West Brabantse Waterlinie. The historic sluice gates and lock-keepers' houses offer views of the Volkerak and the natural areas outside the dikes, Slikken van de Heen and Dintelse Gorzen. Here, the history of water management meets views of the surrounding waters and natural landscape.

The brick sluice in De Heen also has an earlier history: it replaced a wooden flushing sluice built in 1610. A different part of the area's history comes to the fore in the Onze Lieve Vrouw ten Hemelopneming church. The church was built in 1884 to a design by architect Piet van Genk; inside, you can see many stained-glass windows. In De Heen, the history of water-management and church architecture thus offer two distinct reasons for a cultural walk.

Village Life and Recurring Events

The annual carnival parade has its own special village name: during carnival, De Heen is known as “'t Strienedurpke.” Since the exact dates should be checked each year, it is worth checking the dates for the relevant year before planning your visit.

At Bakhuys De Heen, bread is traditionally baked in a wood-fired clay oven on the last Saturday of every month. These baking dates are listed for 2026; check the specific date before you travel. This lets you plan a visit to the bakery around the other interests on your trip, without confusing it with the seasonal carnival dates.

Discover more destinations: Steenbergen, Steenbergen, Dinteloord, Nieuw-Vossemeer.

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