TOP Stadspark Oudegein

From TOP Stadspark Oudegein, you can explore the Oude Geinsche polder with its special historical elements. Stadspark Oudegein is a green lung of Nieuwegein and offers many recreational opportunities. There are wonderful cycling, walking and boating routes available. Near this TOP are charging points for electric bikes and cars, a bicycle pump and catering establishment Jack's Grillhouse. Here you can take a break, rent canoes and obtain information about the surrounding area. Several cycling and hiking routes are also available.

Stadspark Oudegein was laid out in 1977. Traces of the original Oude Geinsche Polder can still be easily traced. There is also a large central pond with several smaller water features and lawns laid out in the English landscape style. Other attractions include Oudegein Castle, the historic IJsselstee farm, Geinoord 1 residential house, the children's farm and the Environmental Education Centre. A natural ice rink and a cooper test track can also be found in the city park.

The Stadspark is located along a busy canal, (the Doorslag) that goes to IJsselstein and Utrecht. Besides high nature value, the City Park also provides many recreational opportunities. Centrally located in Stadspark Oudegein is the Nature Quarter, which consists of four parts: Museum Warsenhoeck, the Wipmill of the Oudegein polder, the children's farm and the Environmental Education Centre. Lectures, courses, excursions and exhibitions offer plenty of opportunities for young and old here. You can discover all kinds of things here about the plants and animals and the cultural history of Nieuwegein and its surroundings. Visit www.natuurkwartier.nl for more information and the agenda of activities in the Nature Quarter.

Vreeswijk
Vreeswijk's history dates back to the early 9th century. With the demise of small town 't Geyne, Vreeswijk began to function as an outport for the city of Utrecht. In 1373, the construction of a wooden sluice in the Vaertse Rijn began, at the place where the Oude Sluis is still located today. In 1817, the Rijkshulpschutsluis was constructed. Since the completion of the Lek Canal in 1938 and the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal in 1952, the majority of economic shipping traffic has been moving along these routes. However, Vreeswijk still characterises itself as a trading village. It is a Rijksbeschermd dorpszicht and also houses part of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie: Fort Vreeswijk. In the mid-18th century, ribbon settlement developed along the then Vaertsche Rijn (along Herenstraat).

Jutphaas
The municipality of Jutphaas came into existence in 1812. In 1819, Fort Jutphaas was built near Jutphaas as part of the New Dutch Waterline. This fort is open to the public. Also characteristic of historic Jutphaas are the church buildings, the cemetery on the Kerkveld, the former town hall and the Henkelfabriek (soap factory).

Princess Beatrix Lock
The Princess Beatrix Lock is an imposing double-lock complex and forms the shipping link between the river Lek and the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. It is a twin lock: there are two equal chambers next to each other. With two chambers, separate locks can be used in both directions and up- and downstream shipping will not interfere with each other. Due to increased cargo shipping on the Lek Canal and much larger modern barges, it was decided to build a third lock chamber on the east side of the existing lock.

Walking
Walk "Walking on water": This walk takes you along and over water, to special historical buildings such as, the Wipmolen of the Oudegein polder, the IJsselstee farm (Museum Warsenhoeck) and the Oudegein castle.

The municipality of Nieuwegein has also developed several routes around the City Park.

Cycling
Several cycle paths run through Stadspark Oudegein, connecting the surrounding districts.
Via the route planners of the Cyclists' Union, Recreation Board or ANWB, you can also map out various cycling routes yourself using the junctions.

* Along the Lek: A beautiful 30 km route leads you 'Along the Lek' from Nieuwegein to Culemborg and back on the other side of the Lek. The route takes you past some impressive forts and defences of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie.

* TOP Linielanding: From this City Park you can cycle via nodes 24 23 22 25 20 19 17 15 16 03 and 90 to TOP De Linielanding, passing the former village of Vreeswijk and the imposing monumental Prinses Beatrixsluis and its service houses.

Varen
This TOP is located on the signposted regional sloop network. At www.sloepennetwerk.nl/routeplanner you can determine your own sailing route. You can also explore the area by canoe. Sail towards Utrecht or IJsselstein/Montfoort, past beautiful country houses and the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie.