The tall, freestanding bell tower of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Stephen is visible from far away and rises above the village of Moerdijk. It gives the place a distinctive visual feature. At the same time, other aspects of Moerdijk can be discovered through very different details: a terracotta relief on the former convent, the history of a lost church, an annual memorial service for the dead, and a stage of the Maaspad. De Appelzak adds a natural landscape that is described explicitly to these themes.
De Appelzak and Moerdijk’s Landscape
De Appelzak is a small nature area with woodland, diverse flora and an atmospheric beach. Its location is also part of its character: the area forms a green buffer zone between the village of Moerdijk and the Moerdijk industrial estate. Natural features and spatial context are therefore equally defining aspects. If you are weighing up Moerdijk as a destination, De Appelzak offers a specific connection to the landscape, while the bell tower and memorial sites bring other aspects of the place to the fore.
Architectural Traces and Local History
On the former convent, at roof level, a terracotta relief of Christ is set into the façade. The inscription “Vita et resurectio nostrae” refers to the convent’s reconstruction. The detail can be understood both through its material and placement and through its connection to the convent’s history. Alongside the tower, visible from far away, the relief draws attention to a smaller architectural detail described more closely.
Another historical trace is Moerdijk’s former Roman Catholic church: it was lost in 1944, and only its bell survived. This memorial is distinct from the history of the convent; it draws attention to the loss of the church and the single surviving object. The De Klokkestoel monument was unveiled on 4 May 1985. This specific date gives the town’s history and memorial sites a concrete timeframe.
Memorial Service and Date
A traditional memorial service for the dead of the village of Moerdijk is held annually at the Klokkenstoel van Moerdijk on 4 May, accompanied by the trumpet signal Taptoe. If you are planning a stay around this date, you can take the memorial service into account as a recurring event tied to a specific date. The year 1985, when the monument was unveiled, and the recurring annual date of 4 May answer different questions: when the monument was unveiled and when the local tradition takes place.
Maaspad Stage and Ferry Connection
There is also a specific starting point for route planning: the 17th stage of the Maaspad begins at Wilhelminaplein, next to the bus station. From Moerdijk, the stage passes through a nature area. This gives you both a clearly named starting point and a landscape feature along the route. If this stage fits your plans, starting at Wilhelminaplein helps you plan the beginning of your day; the stretch through nature describes what characterises the stage along the way.
The Veerdienst de Lucretia connects Strijensas and Moerdijk; the crossing takes about 20 minutes. This is a separate detail to factor into your plans if the ferry connection is part of your trip. Check the timetable in advance and include the approximate crossing time in your schedule. This keeps the actual journey time distinct from the question of which departure times are suitable: the timetable is the source to consult for the latter.
Discover more destinations: Fijnaart, Klundert, Standdaarbuiten, Langeweg, Zevenbergen, Oudemolen, Willemstad.
Go to the broader travel overview: Moerdijk.
