Discover Houten: Leisure, water and history

Houten offers a range of ways to spend your stay: exercise, play, water activities and historic attractions. The Vijfwal sports trail, play areas, waterside locations and historic Oude Dorp each have their own focus. You can choose Houten based on which aspects of the town are most interesting for your trip.

Exercise, play and water

The Vijfwal sports trail is almost five kilometres long and includes 16 exercises, sports equipment and a sprint track. Its length gives an idea of the overall scale of the trail; the exercises, equipment and separate sprint section show the different elements it comprises. If exercise is part of your travel plans, the Vijfwal offers more than a single piece of sports equipment or one exercise.

At Speelbos Nieuw Wulven, children can climb and build. You can also see the outline of a large former fort and numerous works of art there. Play and design go hand in hand here: alongside activities for children, there is also the fort motif and the artworks to see. This makes the play forest interesting if you would like to take in both during a visit.

Speelboerderij Houten is a petting zoo and playground, located at Keercamp 17. Its offering is therefore different from that of the play forest: here, the focus is on the petting zoo and playground. The Hof van Wulven recreation area provides space for walkers, joggers and children at play. These three places appeal to different leisure interests, and need not be used in the same way.

You can fish and go boating at Kooikersplas. Rietplas is another option if swimming is important to you: swimming there in the municipality of Houten is permitted from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Swimming guidance may change seasonally, so check the latest information before your visit. Fishing and boating are the main activities at Kooikersplas, while swimming hours are specified for Rietplas.

History in Houten

The history of the municipality of Houten includes traces of settlement from the Iron Age, Roman times and the Middle Ages. The Het Oude Station Archaeological Museum offers an introduction to archaeological finds: the “Leen de Keijzer” archaeological working group displays finds there. The exhibition “4000 jaar geschiedenis Houten” also explores the region’s past. In various display cases, it shows the interaction between Castellum Fectio in Bunnik and life in Houten.

De Roskam brings together historical dates and dining. The establishment has existed since at least 1630; its present-day appearance dates from around 1735. As a restaurant, De Roskam serves food and drinks in the heart of Houten. The two dates refer to different aspects: 1630 indicates how long it has existed at a minimum, while the date around 1735 relates to its present-day appearance.

In Oude Dorp, you can enjoy a relaxed stroll or walk in the heart of historic Houten. This complements the archaeological and historical themes with time spent in the old town centre. If you are interested in history, Houten offers different perspectives: settlement traces from several eras, archaeological finds, the exhibition about Bunnik and Houten, and historic sites and buildings.

Houten and the Kromme Rijnstreek

Houten is one of the towns in the Kromme Rijnstreek. The region has walking and cycling routes, adding a regional dimension to the municipality’s leisure options. When choosing a hotel in Houten, your specific travel interests can help guide you: exercise on the sports trail, play areas, activities on the water or the town’s history. The offerings have different focuses, so tailor your search to the themes that matter for your stay.

Discover more destinations: 'T Goy, Schalkwijk.

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