Wijk bij Duurstede: Old Town, Rivers and Culture

Wijk bij Duurstede lies at the confluence of the Nederrijn and the Lek. Its location by the water is a distinctive geographical landmark; monuments, the town’s history and routes through the river landscape also shape the visitor experience. When planning your visit, you can choose between historic buildings, a museum and a range of activities on foot or on the water.

Old Town and Notable Buildings

The old town is designated as a protected townscape of national importance. Notable Rijksmonumenten in Wijk bij Duurstede include the Grote Kerk; its tower is one of the most significant late Gothic towers in the Netherlands. The Oude Stadhuis is also a Rijksmonument. It was built between 1662 and 1666 in the Neoclassical style. The ruins and parkland of Wijk bij Duurstede are also of general cultural and historical importance.

Rijn en Lek offers a distinctive combination of town architecture and milling history: it is the only windmill in the Netherlands built on a town gate. The mill is still used to grind grain. From its gallery, you can look out over the Rhine and the Lek. These three aspects—its design, its use and the view of the rivers—each give a visit a different focus.

History and Town Walks

Museum Dorestad presents the history of Wijk bij Duurstede from the Dorestad period onwards. The museum also houses a reconstructed Scandinavian cargo ship from Katla, which visitors can climb inside. Another way to explore the town’s history while on the move is the poetry trail: it features thirteen texts found on walls, on plinths, on works of art or in the street surface.

A guided town walk led by the VVV lasts about an hour and a half and covers local history from Roman times onwards. The guided Straatsafari through the town centre also lasts about an hour and a half. It introduces visitors to urban nature, including swallows, ants working together and plants growing on an old town wall. The tour ends with a snack and a drink made from wild plants. The similar durations refer to different subjects: town history on one tour, and plants and animals in the town centre on the other. The Nachtwandeling is also listed for September to December 2026 as a guided torch-lit walk lasting about two hours. It passes monuments in the illuminated old town and tells the story of the historic town; check the specific dates in advance.

River Landscape and Routes

The “De Wijkse Haven” marina for visiting boats connects the historic town centre with the expansive river landscape. On a trip aboard the Krommerijnder, visitors spend about three hours experiencing the natural scenery along the banks of the Kromme Rijn. A canoe route connects Wijk bij Duurstede and Utrecht; designated portage points are available at locks, including in Cothen and Werkhoven.

On foot, you can explore the Kromme Rijnpad: this 29-kilometre walking route runs between Utrecht and Wijk bij Duurstede. It follows the Kromme Rijn, partly along an old towpath, and is signposted and walkable in both directions. This gives you different measures to consider when planning: an approximate duration for the boat trip and a distance for the walk. TOP Stadshaven is a starting point for walking, cycling or boating and provides information about route networks and parking.

Beer Made to a Historic Recipe

Stadsbrouwerij de Dikke is also part of the local cultural and culinary scene. Since 2015, it has been brewing craft beers based on a historic recipe or ordinance from 1495. The years refer to two different things: brewing by Stadsbrouwerij began in 2015, while 1495 is associated with the historical basis of the recipe or ordinance.

Discover more destinations: Cothen.

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