From Glass to Heukelumse Krakeling - Around Leerdam, Heukelum
Walk from Leerdam to picturesque Heukelum. The early medieval town of Heukelum is located on the southern bank of the river Linge near Oosterwijk. A nice round trip full of sights.
You are going to see this
Description
Start your walk from the VVV Leerdam (1) in the Kerkstraat. Walk down the Kerkstraat towards the Grote Kerk.
Leerdam
Leerdam was once surrounded by walls, gates and canals. No less than three times the city received city rights; in 1382, 1407 and in 1428. It must have been a beautiful sight for travellers; Leerdam with its castle, the city walls with roundels and city gates. Although the castle has been destroyed and the gates demolished, with a little imagination you can surely imagine what it must have looked like back then.
Leerdam was a county, but its special position came to an end with the invasion of the French in 1795. However, the link between the House of Orange and Leerdam remained, as today our King is still Count of Leerdam.
Leerdam is the Glass City of the Netherlands. With the arrival of the glass factory in the 18th century, a large glass industry emerged in Leerdam and this can still be clearly seen in the city today. Visit the National Glass Museum, the glass treasury of the Netherlands, or experience the old craft up close at the Glassworks. Check www.bezoeklekenlinge.nl for opening hours.
Grote Kerk
For centuries, the Grote Kerk has been the building that dominates Leerdam's skyline. It is the oldest building in Leerdam; the tower even dates back to the 13th century. Inside the building you will find an old, beautiful Bätz organ and a fragment of a medieval wall painting can still be seen near the organ. Look closely at the tower of the church, do you notice anything? Whereas most churches have a rooster as a weather vane, Leerdam's Grote Kerk has a Cossack on horseback. A reminder of the liberation of Leerdam in 1814 by the Cossacks.
Turn right onto the market and walk down the Grote Steiger towards the Linge. You are now on the Zuidwal (3).
The south wall with the Muisen towers
You have arrived at perhaps the most picturesque part of Leerdam; the city wall with Muizentorentjes. These Muizentorentjes have a distinctive architectural style, which makes them characteristic. The bottom of the turret is round and the top is square. This is because the bottom was built at the same time as the wall and the houses on top were developed only later. The bottom of the turrets protected the wall from the water from the river Linge. The Loswal - which you are now standing on - was only constructed around 1837. Until then, the water came up to the wall.
At the bottom on the south wall, turn right, follow the path along the city wall and continue your way across the footbridge. Walk under the Lingebrug.
Ribbon bridge with poems
Under the Lingebrug, you can see poems by Leerdam artist Hestia Peek. With a grandmother as a bargee, Hestia feels like a bargee's child. Water has always drawn her and she is in her element when she canoes. She does that a lot on the Linge, which has inspired her to depict her impressions in short, atmospheric, carried poems.
Walk up and turn right on the road towards the Lingebrug. Cross the Linge here. After the bridge, turn right onto the Oude Zuiderlingedijk towards Heukelum. Follow the Oude Zuiderlingedijk until the Oude Hollandse Waterlinie information board, turn right here and follow the purple arrow.
Tip: Should the path from the information board be very muddy, you can also choose to walk straight ahead here and turn right at the main road. As soon as you enter Heukelum, turn right and you can continue the route.
You walk past Heukelum Castle, Merckenburg Castle.
Merckenburg Castle
As early as 1286, this castle was built by the famous Van Arkel family. It was a real castle with towers, a courtyard and even a double moat. Nowadays, it is a residential house and sadly no longer open for visits, but through the bars of the gate, you can get a glimpse of this nostalgic place.
Walk to the cycle path, turn right here and walk towards the Linge. Walk a bit along the Linge until the harbour and node S52 near the statue of the ferryman.
Statue of the ferryman
In 1972, the foot ferry Heukelum-Oosterwijk was disbanded. 'The Ferryman' is a tribute to all the ferrymen who ferry travellers from Heukelum to Oosterwijk and vice versa, year after year in all weathers. The statue was created in 1984 by sculptor Hans Bayens.
Keep left along the harbour and turn right at the end. Follow the dike, and walk past the lie bench. You continue along the Appeldijk here. Note: you share this path with cyclists! Walk on to the industrial area De Koornwaard, where brewery 't Kuipertje is located, among others.
Brewery 't Kuipertje
Around 1850, the brickworks 'De Koornwaard' in Heukelum was founded by Mr Van Houwelingen. It was an extremely primitive business, virtually without machinery. In 1981, the brickworks closed its doors. An industrial estate was built on the site of the brickworks, where brewery 't Kuipertje is located, among others.
't Kuipertje is a small brewery with a nice tasting room. The brewery is located in the former coach house belonging to the former brickworks De Koornwaard. 't Kuipertje is open every Saturday afternoon from 14.00 to 19.00. While visiting the brewery, you can drink a beer from the tap or take a bottle home with you.
Continue your walk along the Appeldijk by keeping left and entering the cycle path. Continue on the cycle path. You will walk along the Koornwaard nature reserve.
Nature reserve De Koornwaard
Sand and clay extraction in the past created the lake De Koornwaard. The clay was processed into bricks, among other things, in the adjacent then brick factory de Koornwaard. After the brick factory closed its doors, the pond became fully owned by the Forestry Commission.
Keep following the Appeldijk, you continue straight ahead on the Groeneweg. At the junction, turn left onto Nieuwe Zuiderlingedijk, junction S49.
Note: you are walking along a busy road here. Take the second road to the left on Nieuweweg, follow the sign foot ferry Heukelum. Arriving in Heukelum again, turn right and continue walking along the town wall.
City wall of Heukelum
You can clearly see from the renovated city wall that Heukelum is an old fortified town. The original wall dates back to 1230 and, according to legend, was built after a series of plunderings by the Vikings, among others.
Is it time for a Heukelum pretzel? Then cross the little bridge to the left towards the church. Continue the route by walking further down the Voorstraat. In the middle of the old centre, you will find the Krakelingenbakker, who makes the one and only Heukelumse Krakelingen according to a secret traditional recipe.
Turn left and immediately turn right onto the path towards Merckenburg Castle. Is the path muddy? Then walk back towards the Heidenseweg. Follow the route until just before the provincial road, turn left towards Leerdam until you arrive at the Lingebrug. From here you can walk back towards Leerdam and warm up in one of the cosy catering establishments.