Albrandswaard has two distinctive sides: the culturally and historically significant Kasteel van Rhoon and the tidal marshlands with their willow stands. Other trails lead to places associated with the occupation, through polders or into the willow jungle of Klein Profijt. You can focus on architectural history, nature or a walk—and discover different facets of the area.
Castle History in Rhoon
Kasteel van Rhoon is a national heritage monument (Rijksmonument), is of considerable cultural and historical significance, and is considered a historic landmark of Albrandswaard. The Van Duivelandt family had it built around 1432. After several floods and fires, the castle took on its present form in 1598. These two dates offer a glimpse into the building’s long history and its transformation after severe events.
Visits are possible as part of the foundation’s cultural activities and during regular guided tours. Check the program dates and any booking requirements in advance. The foundation offers an annual program of theatre, cabaret, music and exhibitions; the program changes from year to year. The “Blik op Albrandswaard” route also has a cultural focus: the StoryTrails app provides information about art, culture and history. Check whether the app is available before your trip.
Traces of History in Poortugaal
The “Terug in de tijd” Liberation Route connects notable places in Albrandswaard that played an important role during the occupation in the Second World War. At each stop, a QR code links to information in the form of a photo, text or video. Poortugaal’s old town hall is on the route. The building known as the “Oude School” was once a public school; during the occupation, people in hiding were regularly sheltered there.
Other buildings also tell the story of Poortugaal. The village church (Dorpskerk) is a Gothic cruciform church whose present form was built in the 15th century. The history of the Oudheidkamer Rhoon en Poortugaal includes its being offered rooms in the old town hall by the municipal administration in 1988. The Oudheidkamer is open on Monday and Saturday afternoons from 2 to 5 p.m. Opening hours may change, so check them before your visit.
Tidal Marshes and Trails Through the Landscape
The Rhoonse Grienden are among the last freshwater tidal marshes with willow stands in the Netherlands. Beavers have built lodges there, but sightings are not guaranteed. The Grienden also have a route accessible to wheelchair users. Check the accessibility conditions in advance. Also note any seasonal restrictions: some walking trails are closed for a two-month period, or bridges are opened, often in January and February. Check the conditions before setting out.
Klein Profijt offers a different landscape: a freshwater tidal area with woodland, willow marshes, reed beds and rough grassland. The 2.5-kilometre Jungle Route leads through its willow jungle. If you want to explore different parts of the marshland, the “Groene lint langs de Oude Maas” route offers another option: it follows winding paths through the Rhoonse and Carnisse Grienden and the willow jungle of Klein Profijt.
Routes for Different Time Budgets
The Jungle Route is 2.5 kilometres long; the Rolf Route through Albrandswaard and Barendrecht covers about 50 kilometres in total. You can explore individual sections of the Rolf Route on foot or by bicycle. Information boards along the route explain the cultural heritage hidden in the polders. This means you can choose between a short walk and a much longer route that can be explored in sections.
The Boerenroute through Buijtenland van Rhoon is about 2.5 to 3 kilometres long; a shorter, 1-kilometre version is also possible. The entire route is not accessible: one paved section is accessible to wheelchair users and pushchairs. The Buijtenroute is a different route, a 22.5-kilometre cycling tour. A shorter version is available, and the route can also be walked. It has two starting points: De Buytenhof in Rhoon and Restaurant Abel in Poortugaal.
The Vossenpad offers another perspective: farmers have opened this walking trail over the dike to visitors so they can experience the polder landscape. Together with the information boards along the Rolf Route, it shows that trails in Albrandswaard not only cross the landscape but also explore its cultural heritage.
Seasonal Pick-Your-Own
At De Buytenhof, visitors can pick apples and pears every year in September and October. Strawberries can also be picked there in season, which usually begins in June and lasts about three weeks. The picking periods for the two harvests therefore fall at different times of the year. Check the relevant season before visiting.
More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Rhoon, Rijswijk, Wassenaar, Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Barendrecht, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Zoetermeer, Dordrecht.
Return to the overview of destinations: South Holland.
