Woerden: Roman History, Mills and Cheese Culture

Woerden combines Roman history with historic buildings, cheese culture and routes through the surrounding area. If you are looking for a hotel in Woerden, these different themes can help guide your choice of destination: Would you like to explore the city’s history, plan a tour or visit, or get to know the surrounding area on an outing or along a route? Here you will find specific ideas for your trip.

Roman History and the City Museum

Around the year 40, the Romans built the Laurium fort in what is now Woerden’s city center. At its peak, up to 500 soldiers were stationed there. The Woerden City Museum devotes its permanent exhibition to the art and cultural history of Woerden and the Groene Hart. If you would like to explore the city’s history in a broader cultural context, both subjects are brought together in one exhibition there. The museum also presents temporary exhibitions and offers guided tours, lectures and workshops.

Windmill and Woerden Castle

Molen De Windhond is a round stone windmill built in Woerden in 1755. It stands on one of the last remaining sections of the old city wall. The mill brings together two distinct historical features: the building itself and part of the former fortifications. The mill can be visited on Wednesday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. with guild-led tours. On Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., it is open as a working mill, with the miller present. Children under twelve must be accompanied; group tours may incur a charge. Times may change, so check them before your visit.

Woerden Castle also brings together different periods. Construction is thought to have begun in 1410; the first recorded mention dates from 1415. Today, this more than 600-year-old Rijksmonument in the historic center is a venue for weddings, meetings, conferences, parties and other special gatherings. The two dates represent different historical reference points: the presumed start of construction and the first recorded mention. Its present-day role as an event venue is another aspect of the building’s history.

Experience Cheese

The Kaaspakhuis in Woerden is the only cheese warehouse still in operation in the Netherlands that is open to visitors. The Kaaspakhuis Woerden also offers the “Brouw je eigen kaas” (“Make Your Own Cheese”) workshop, where participants make cheese themselves under the guidance of an expert cheesemaker. This offers two different ways to explore cheese: a visit to the warehouse and hands-on cheese-making in the workshop. Check the booking details before your trip.

Petrustoren and Woerden 7

The Petrustoren carillon has 48 bells and chimes every quarter hour. Guided climbs involve ascending 142 steps in several stages. At the intermediate landings, the guide explains the history of Woerden and the tower. These explanations accompany the climb and connect the history of the tower with that of the city. Dates for guided climbs may change, so check the current schedule if you are planning your visit around one.

Another piece of history is the stern of the ship Woerden 7, displayed in the Castellum parking garage opposite the Petruskerk. The two examples have different points of focus: the history of a ship in one case, and the carillon and the history explained during a guided climb in the other.

Outings and Countryside Around Woerden

During the summer, WSV De Greft offers group outings on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 p.m. Beginners can take a loop via the Grecht or Oude Rijn around the Singel van Woerden. The days and times listed provide a specific schedule for this summer activity; if you would like to plan your trip around it, check the date in advance.

The Polderroute offers a different perspective on the surrounding area. It first follows the towpath alongside the Oude Rijn, recalling the former practice of towing boats along the river. Around the picturesque village of Kockengen, the route passes through open countryside; many of the meadows are bird sanctuaries. The route thus combines a historic connection to the river with the landscape around Kockengen.

Discover more destinations: Harmelen

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