Waddinxveen: Cycling, Nature and Culture

Explore Waddinxveen through its cycling and cultural highlights. The “Parel aan de Gouwe” cycling route leads through the town; nature areas, memorial sites and regular cultural events offer further inspiration for planning your trip. If you’re looking for a hotel in Waddinxveen, these different highlights can help you work out what interests you during your stay.

Cycling routes, nature and active excursions

Bentwoud is a nature and recreation area of more than 800 hectares in the municipalities of Alphen aan den Rijn and Waddinxveen. The area has 80 kilometres of walking and cycling paths. There is also a marked three-kilometre running route, the Woudloperspad, and a mountain-bike trail. You’ll find a range of routes here, from walking and cycling to a dedicated running route.

In the “'t Weegje” area, you can go for a walk, take a boat out, play and fish. A birdwatching hide overlooks a wet meadow, where black-tailed godwits, redshanks and snipes can regularly be seen in spring. This seasonal wildlife watching differs from Bentwoud’s year-round route options: spring is the best time for birdwatching.

“'t Weegje” is open from sunrise to sunset. There is a bicycle rack and a small car park with one space for people with physical disabilities. The toilet building is available seasonally from 1 May to 1 October. The Gouwebos at Lindelaantje in Waddinxveen is also open from sunrise to sunset.

The “Parel aan de Gouwe” cycling route

The 27-kilometre “Parel aan de Gouwe” cycling route starts and ends at Waddinxveen Centrum NS railway station and runs through Waddinxveen. You can split the route at Kerkweg into a 12-kilometre northern section or a 13-kilometre southern section. The route is one of the seven cultural routes in Midden-Holland and is part of the Staande Mastroute. Its total length and two section options give you clear details for planning your route.

Hefbrug Waddinxveen is a point on the “Parel aan de Gouwe” route. The municipality highlights the Waddinxveense Hefbrug as a special monument and has dedicated a separate feature to its history. Waddinxveen also has cultural highlights such as murals, poems, story benches, art routes and “De Vergeten Plek”.

Memorials and historic sites

De Naald is a nine-metre-high, 80-centimetre-wide obelisk on a circular platform. The monument was erected in 1947 to commemorate all civilians and military personnel who died as a result of acts of war and terror since the outbreak of the Second World War. Every year on 4 May, residents gather at the memorial for a remembrance ceremony.

Another annual fixture is Open Monumentendag, held on the second weekend in September. In Waddinxveen, it is organised by volunteers from WadCultureel and volunteers at the participating sites. The Oudheidkamer in Waddinxveen is open every Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00.

More activities

Kinderboerderij Dierendal is a petting zoo in Waddinxveen. It regularly hosts educational afternoons and hands-on activities. The Vredenburghzone has a fenced dog exercise area with water and play equipment for dogs; it can be reached from Moerkapellepad. There is also an access bridge from Plasweg into the Vredenburghzone.

Gouwebad De Sniep may also be useful for planning your trip: during public swimming sessions, it is open to all age groups.

Discover more destinations: Waddinxveen

Back to the main travel overview: Waddinxveen.