Goudriaan: Polder Landscape and Village History

Goudriaan combines nature-related attractions with a layered local history. In the Polderbos, the focus is on walks, tranquillity and edible plants; at the swimming lake, it is on seasonal swimming and playing in the water. The Hervormde Kerk, the former courthouse and early settlement traces offer further historical perspectives. If you are looking for a hotel in Goudriaan, these different attractions can help you decide whether you are more interested in the landscape, village architecture or the area's more distant past.

Nature and seasonal activities

The swimming lake is located at the entrance to the Slingelandse Plassen recreation area. In warm spring and summer weather, it is used for swimming and playing in the water. Water conditions can vary seasonally, so check the current operator's information before your visit.

The Polderbos is a meeting place for people who appreciate spending time outdoors. Visitors can go for walks and enjoy the tranquillity. The area is easily accessible via a partly paved footpath, including for people with limited mobility. Visitors to the Polderbos can also experience a wide variety of edible crops, trees and shrubs. The edible forest is still being developed.

The nature attractions offer different experiences: seasonal water activities are the focus at the lake, while the Polderbos offers walks, tranquillity and plant diversity.

Village architecture and traces of earlier times

The Hervormde Kerk at Noordzijde 17 is a late Gothic village church with a single-nave body and a deep, three-sided chancel. A massive brick tower stands at the west end. Rows of narrow blind niches adorn it, topped by a tapering, octagonal spire. The church's furnishings include a pulpit dating from 1642.

The architecture can be viewed through its floor plan and exterior form: the nave is the church's main space, with the chancel attached and ending in a three-sided form here. The tower, niches and spire are further features of the late Gothic building. Single-nave means that there are no aisles alongside the nave.

Another historic building is the former courthouse at Noordzijde 12–14. It was originally built as a farmhouse in 1639. The church represents late Gothic architecture and includes a furnishing dating from 1642; the former courthouse combines its earlier role as a court with its origins as a farmhouse dating from 1639.

Goudriaan developed in the 13th century as a long, linear village along the Goudriaan peat stream. A different, older layer of history can be found in the Polder Oud-Goudriaan area at Goudriaanse Kade: settlement traces there date from the Late Stone Age and the Vlaardingen culture. The medieval development of the village and these much older traces belong to different areas and offer two distinct perspectives on the history of the region.

Discover more destinations: Molenaarsgraaf.

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