De Biesbosch, a large water-rich area close to Dordrecht, which you can discover while walking and cycling, but especially from the water. Many water birds live there, the osprey regularly visits and you can spot beavers.
We are visiting all the National Parks in the Netherlands! Here you can read about the Oosterschelde or about Maasduinen.
Renewed introduction
We have often rented a boat or canoe to explore the Biesbosch, at the visitor center in Dordrecht. This time we will go for a walk from Werkendam.
De Biesbosch has been less positive in the news in recent weeks. The beautiful area apparently suffers from the large number of visitors. So close to the city, it attracts many visitors who may not all come for a peaceful hike.
Today, a sunny Sunday in September, we notice that there are indeed many people. But once you are on the road, it is not too bad.
Spieringsluis
We park the car at Spieringssluis. Here you see a road on the right-hand side with a prohibition sign “No driving, with the exception of local traffic”. You can drive this road up to the Deeneplaat hiking area. Here is a tiny parking lot. Next time, on a quiet day, we will try that too. Today we park at Spieringssluis because we also want to visit the Jantjesplaat.
Red and blue routes
There are several routes, the blue routes are paved and wide. Some people also cycle here and use local traffic. The red routes go more through the wetland area, over bridges and along the water. I advise you to follow the red route as much as possible. You can also follow the knooppunten, but they also run via the blue, less attractive route. So deviate from that!
Bird paradise
We start at the parking lot and walk around the first water via the blue route. The Jantjesplaat has a lot of water and attracts a lot of birds. In addition, a part of it falls dry and this creates a beautiful area. The paths then again offer a view over the flat water, and then again they are hidden between the willows and reeds. There are large and small creeks everywhere.
We immediately see many swans and ducks. In addition, blue herons, a white egret and various geese.
Catherine Polder
Via Catherinapolder we walk to Polder Hooge Hof and Deeneplaat. The Catherine Polder is less attractive, you walk on the road, with a view over the polders. However, it is the only way to get to Hooge Hof and Deeneplaat, or you have to continue by car.
Polder Hooge Hof
The Polder Hooge Hof already looks much more attractive. Pasture that is a bit rougher with rough edges. Nature has been given space here. There are also large cows and cattle grazing. Along the side at the beginning of the polder we see a grove that consists partly of dead trees. Wonderful how those forest giants look with their roots in the water.
The plate
The Deeneplaat has been open to walkers since 2013. Via a bridge you come from the Hooge Hof to the plate. Also here beautiful light and beautiful colors. Many water birds and it is wonderfully quiet.
You can walk even further south, we will turn around. We would love to come back. This is a beautiful part of Biesbosch. Also from the water, with a canoe, it seems nice!
When we walk back, we mainly take the red routes, everywhere in between, via the bridges. It is really enjoyable in this area! And the crowds are not too bad!
Information
- Start and end point: Spierings lock Werkendam, parking lot
- Length: Back and forth to the Deeneplaat, 13 km
- Marking: here and there a post with an arrow, in some places nodes, a map is useful
- Information: The Flyer of National Park De Biesbosch
