Discover Sliedrecht: Museums, river and historic routes

Sliedrecht lies on the Beneden-Merwede River. Travellers encounter the town’s history in its museums, historic buildings and themed routes; green spaces and a recommended combination of walking and travel by water round out what it has to offer. A visit therefore focuses both on local history and water engineering, as well as paths through the landscape.

Museums and architectural history

The Sliedrechts Museum presents Sliedrecht’s history from the year 1000 to the present day in words and images. In addition to this permanent exhibition, it regularly hosts changing exhibitions about the town. The museum is located in Kerkbuurt, in a Rijksmonument that includes the former town hall and the former cantonal court. The building’s previous uses add another historical dimension to a visit to the museum.

The Nederlands Hervormde Kerk is also a Rijksmonument. As far as is known, it is considered Sliedrecht’s oldest building; the oldest elements of its foundations date from before 1000. This means that the documented architectural history of this site goes back further in time than the beginnings of the local history presented at the Sliedrechts Museum.

The Nationaal Baggermuseum is housed in a historic building on Molendijk in Sliedrecht. It presents the present and past of Sliedrecht’s dredging industry. The BaggerPraktijkTuin offers a hands-on introduction to water engineering techniques: young visitors can get involved and discover different techniques through play.

Historic routes on foot or by bike

The Struikelstenen Sliedrecht walking route passes all the Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) laid in Sliedrecht and offers a way to discover the town’s history. It is available as a 7.5- or 11.5-kilometre route; without using public transport, it can be 14.5 kilometres long. The longer route uses a train for the return journey from Baanhoek station to Sliedrecht station. The distance and return journey by public transport are therefore useful points to bear in mind when planning this route.

The Monumentenroute in Sliedrecht is 14 kilometres long and can be completed on foot or by bike. It can be shortened at several points. Compared with the Struikelstenen route, it therefore differs both in focus and in the stated planning options: the Monumentenroute can be shortened at several points, while the Struikelstenen route offers different distances and, on the longer route, a train journey for the return trip.

Green spaces and landscapes by the water

The Dr. W. Dreespark offers space for a walk among greenery. The Burgemeester Feitsmapark has a petting zoo, providing a different specific reason to visit a park.

The municipality recommends taking the Waterbus and combining a walk with a journey on the water. This lets you plan a walk and a boat trip together. The Merwelanden area and De Biesbosch National Park are rich in flora and fauna. De Biesbosch National Park is a landscape of interwoven waterways, willow forests, reed beds and hidden river nature.

The surrounding Alblasserwaard area features a polder landscape with extensive pastures, beautiful nature, and characteristic farms and villages. Together with the water-shaped landscape of the Biesbosch, this broader regional view offers a different impression from the historic buildings and routes in town.

If you are looking for a hotel for your stay in Sliedrecht, you can plan your trip around a particular focus: the museums and historic routes explore the town’s history, while walks among greenery and the recommended Waterbus connection bring nature and water to the fore.

Discover more destinations: Barendrecht, Noordwijkerhout, The Hague, Liesveld, Oostflakkee, Reeuwijk, Ouderkerk, Bodegraven

For the broader travel overview: South Holland.