Bodegraven-Reeuwijk: Lakes, Romans and Regional Routes

Water landscapes, Roman traces and historic buildings give Bodegraven-Reeuwijk many different sides. The Reeuwijkse Plassen invite you to enjoy activities on the water, while routes and museums explore the area’s history. A brewery tour and a route with farm stops are also among the options worth considering when planning your trip. You can choose which themes to focus on based on your interests.

Lakes, waterways and regional products

The Reeuwijkse Plassen consist of 13 lakes created by peat extraction in the 18th century. Today, the lakes offer opportunities for boating. The Oude-Dorpen-Route offers a different perspective on the landscape: it is a canoe tour through the polders between Reeuwijk and Bodegraven. If you prefer to travel by bicycle, “Romeinen & Turfstekers” is a 24-kilometre cycling route in Bodegraven-Reeuwijk. It starts at TOP Reeuwijkse Hout on the Reeuwijkse Houtwal in Reeuwijk. The route length may change if the route is revised, so check the current version before setting out.

The Smikkelroute focuses on farms and their fresh, artisan-made products. Along the way, you can buy food to eat straight away or take home. This makes the route different in focus from the options on the water and the cycling route: regional produce is part of the experience here. If you’re planning a brewery tour at Brouwerij De Molen, make sure to book in advance. The tour lasts 80 to 90 minutes, includes a visit to the new brewery near the mill, and includes a tasting of three of the brewery’s beers. Tour details may change; check them in advance if you’re planning a visit.

Roman traces and the history of the landscape

Roman soldiers lived in Bodegraven in a fort that no longer exists. It was probably built in 61 AD. The “Wandeling door Romeins Bodegraven” route takes you to places where Roman traces have been found and is available to download free of charge. If you plan to use the route, check that the download is currently accessible beforehand. The South Holland section of the Neder-Germaanse Limes runs from Katwijk to Bodegraven.

The region also explores how the landscape was formed. The permanent exhibition at Streekmuseum Reeuwijk explains how the Reeuwijkse Plassen were created by peat extraction in Reeuwijk and Sluipwijk. The museum is housed in a farmhouse dating from 1907; it also features a changing exhibition each season. This brings together a permanent theme on the history of the landscape and seasonally changing exhibitions.

Oukoopse Molen is a post mill for draining water, dating from around 1674, and is a national heritage site (Rijksmonument). Following the restoration of the watercourse in 2019, it is fully operational on a voluntary basis. Fort Wierickerschans is a different kind of historic site, built as a defensive structure in 1673. The fort’s Kruithuis dates from 1747 and has been preserved in its original condition. It has an exhibition room and can host workshops and small presentations; arrangements for its use may change.

At De Schansen van Nieuwerbrug, the dikes along the Rhine were defended on both sides during the Rampjaar (Disaster Year). This was also where Prince Willem III’s headquarters began. The old villages known as “Oude Dorpen” came into being between 1100 and 1300 as a result of draining and cultivating the peatland. These historical connections add further periods to the Roman traces without reducing the sites to a single era.

Places and routes to help you plan

There are specific conditions for visiting Fort Wierickerschans: the grounds are generally open to individual visitors free of charge, Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. As private rentals may affect access, it is advisable to confirm in advance. This can help you coordinate your visit with the other stops on your trip.

Local dance schools, theatre groups, bands and other groups perform at the Evertshuis; the programme may change. Bodegraven NS railway station is a two-minute walk from the Evertshuis. The Line-Ploeter-Route also starts at the station and runs through Woerdense Verlaat, Bodegraven and Nieuwerbrug. Together with the 24-kilometre cycling route and the canoe tour, this lets you choose based on the activity and route type before making the rest of your travel plans.

The three places of Bodegraven, Reeuwijk and Nieuwerbrug aan Den Rijn offer specific points of interest for exploring the destination. Discover more destinations: Bodegraven, Reeuwijk, Nieuwerbrug aan Den Rijn, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Capelle Aan Den Ijssel, Hellevoetsluis, Lisse, Strijen.

For the broader travel overview: South Holland.