The Ommetje Ooij circular walk is a specific way to explore Ooij on foot: it leads through the Ooijpolder and connects the river landscape with local history.

Walking through the Ooijpolder

The circular route is 7.5 km long and partly unpaved; winding dikes and farm tracks shape its course. It offers insight into Ooij’s cultural history as a former workers’ village, which remained associated with brick production until well into the 1970s. The history of how the river landscape was formed is also explored along the way. The route’s length and surface help with planning your day. As trail conditions can change, check local conditions before setting out.

River landscape and nature

The Ooijpolder is an extensive polder landscape in the floodplains of the Waal and an important part of the De Gelderse Poort National Landscape. Wild horses, beavers and large geese can be found in the Ooijpolder; Galloway cattle also graze there. The presence of these animals can vary seasonally. Another feature of the landscape is a large area open for exploring, with an observation tower. Check local access conditions before your visit. An observation tower is a clearly identified point of interest in the landscape, while wildlife watching remains flexible because animal presence varies seasonally.

Brickmaking history in Ooij

The Sint Hubertuskerk in Ooij is also part of the area’s architectural history. The Neo-Gothic church was built in 1904–05 to a design by Caspar Franssen (1860–1932). Neo-Gothic refers to the revival of Gothic forms in a later period; the church therefore offers an architectural perspective alongside the industrial heritage.

The De Ballenmaker monument stands in the centre of Ooij at the intersection of Bleistraat and Kon. Julianalaan. It commemorates brick production in the surrounding area, providing a distinct connection to local history.

The Tiengeboden are workers’ houses built by the brickworks along the dike. Their name derives from two rows of five houses each, built back-to-back, for workers at the Steenfabriek De Vlietberg. The former Steenfabriek De Vlietberg was built in 1873 and closed in 1975. Today, only the truncated chimney, the director’s house and the coach house remain.

A cycling tour also explores the theme: Steenfabriek De Ooij is a stop on the “Steengoed – Fietsen door de Ooijpolder en Lingewaard” tour. This puts a walking route through the polder landscape alongside a cycling tour with a named brickworks stop, offering different perspectives. Stichting Van Steen en Natuur is committed to preserving the cultural and historical landscape shaped by the brick industry in the Ooijpolder. It aims to introduce visitors to this cultural landscape, which is unique in the Netherlands. The Ooijroute lets visitors discover old river channels, floodplains, clay pits, wetlands and river dunes.

Discover more destinations: Ubbergen, Beek-Ubbergen.

Go to the main travel overview: Ubbergen.