Berkenwoude: Polder Nature and Historic Places

Berkenwoude brings together polder landscapes, birdwatching, and regional history. When choosing a destination for your next trip, these different attractions can help you decide: meadows and wooded areas shape the landscape in the polder, while historic buildings and technical landmarks offer a different way to explore the surroundings. You can first decide which themes you want your stay to focus on, then look for hotels in Berkenwoude.

Polder Paths, Birds, and Cycling

In the Berkenwoude polder, paths cross meadows and wooded areas and run along long, narrow Tiendwegen. The Berkenwoudse Driehoek lies northwest of the village of Berkenwoude in the Krimpenerwaard. The Zwarte Stern Route runs through meadows and along narrow embankments. Near the Berkenwoudse Driehoek, a side path leads to a birdwatching hide. In the polder, a birdwatching hide offers a view of a peat pond.

When planning a cycling trip, it is important to distinguish between the area itself and the surrounding roads: cycling is not possible within the polder, but is very easy on the surrounding polder roads. In the Krimpenerwaard, the cycle route network comprises 45 junctions and 153 kilometres of cycle paths. This regional figure describes the cycle route network of the Krimpenerwaard; the restriction within the polder still applies.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

The Berkenwoude polder is not accessible by public transport. There is a large car park by the polder at the corner of Schaapjeszijde/Wellepoort in Ouderkerk aan den IJssel, and another at the corner of Tiendweg/Schaapjeszijde. Wellepoort 3, 2825 NB Berkenwoude, is listed as the address for the Zwarte Stern Route. These details about getting there and following the route can help you plan your trip.

Landscape and History of the Krimpenerwaard

Berkenwoude lies in a peat meadow area near Loetbos, alongside the peat river Loet. The place name also points to the history of the landscape: Berkenwoude derives its name from the low-lying swamp forest that grew in the Krimpenerwaard before land reclamation began in the 11th century. The meadows around Berkenwoude nearly became the Berkenwoudsche Plassen, like those near Reeuwijk. The present-day landscape and this change that almost happened are two distinct aspects of regional history.

Kooilust, a summer duck decoy with four trapping pipes, lies northwest of Berkenwoude. Also to the northwest is Nooitgedacht, also known as Kooi van Verstoep: a winter duck decoy with five trapping pipes. The two sites therefore differ both in their seasonal designation and in the number of trapping pipes. These specific differences help distinguish between the places mentioned.

Mills and Churches as Further Attractions

The Zuidbroekse Molen stands on the edge of the Zuidbroek polder. It is a so-called American wind engine, was built in 1922, and is made by the Hercules Metallicus brand. As the last surviving wind engine in Zuid-Holland, it has particular regional significance. Alongside the history of the landscape, it shows that Berkenwoude is shaped not only by its polder paths, but also by technical landmarks.

The Schuurkerk Berkenwoude stands next to the Hervormde Kerk. The 36-kilometre-long “Kerkjes en Molens” route passes by the Schuurkerk. This means there are different interests to consider when choosing a destination: the polder paths and the Zwarte Stern Route lead through meadows, while the mill and churches are specific buildings in the region.

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