In Culemborg, the city museum, preserved fortifications and historic mills bring different chapters of the city’s history to life. If you’d like to combine culture and exercise, you’ll also find circular walks in the built-up area and a cultural meeting place on the River Lek. This selection will help you plan your stay around the subjects that interest you most.

City history from the Weeshuis to the city gates

The Elisabeth Weeshuis Museum is Culemborg’s city museum. It is housed in a monumental building and takes visitors on a journey through time across nine museum rooms. Its historical roots go back a long way: the Culemborgse Weeshuis is the oldest orphanage in the Netherlands built specifically for orphans. The museum and the Weeshuis thus combine the institution’s present-day museum function with its history.

Parts of the city’s fortifications have also been preserved. Large sections of the historic city wall still stand, including on the west side and near Ridderstraat. Of the seven city gates, the Binnenpoort is the only one that remains. The Grote or Barbarakerk is Culemborg’s largest monument. These buildings offer different ways to explore the city’s history, although they do not all relate to the same period or function.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church was built in 1839 on the foundations of the St. Peter’s or Gasthuiskapel. In the Kasteeltuin, thick walls from a 13th-century tower have been preserved; there is also a small museum room and a tea house featuring special finds. The Culemborg city walk passes several places and buildings that have played an important role in the city’s history. It’s another way to explore historical themes at a range of stops.

Mills: watch and take part

At the Johannamolen, visitors can use hand mills to make flour themselves. Guided tours last between 20 minutes and an hour and are suitable for children and adults. This gives you the choice between a shorter introduction and a more in-depth tour. If you’d like to get hands-on with the mill, you can choose the “Be a miller for a day” workshop. Participants climb into the sails, turn the mill, operate the brake and work the hoist, among other activities.

De Hoop is also part of the area’s milling history: in 1993, the mill was fully restored to be capable of grinding.

Circular walks and paths along the Lek

The Kikkerpad offers a circular walk of about nine kilometres in both Culemborg Oost and Culemborg West. The eastern route is marked with green stickers and the western route with blue ones; both can be walked in either direction. The paths pass through green, water-rich areas within the built-up area. The way to the Kikkerpad from Culemborg railway station is signposted. Check the condition of the markers before setting out.

Fort Werk aan het Spoel near Culemborg is a cultural meeting place on the River Lek. The site was established in 1815 as part of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie. Cycling, hiking and walking routes intersect near the Liniepont landing stage at Werk aan het Spoel. A ferry serving all types of traffic runs year-round between Culemborg and Schalkwijk; in Culemborg, it departs from the marina on Veerkade. Check the timetable and operating conditions before travelling.

A local breakfast speciality

Eetkamer serves breakfast with a variety of artisan treats, including Culemborgse kaasstengels, a speciality of Culemborgs Bakhuis. As the food selection may change, check what’s currently available before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Culemborg, Ubbergen, Rheden, Rijnwaarden, Hattem, Geldermalsen, Wageningen, Neder-Betuwe.

Back to the regional travel overview: Gelderland.