Berkenwoude lies in a peat meadow area near Loetbos and the Loet peat river. Polder trails, birdwatching and distinctive traces of the region’s landscape history give the area several different facets. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between exploring the polder, cycling on the surrounding roads and visiting the named cultural sites.

Polder Trails, Birdwatching and Cycling

In the Berkenwoude polder, paths cross meadows and wooded areas, as well as long, narrow Tiendwege. A birdwatching screen offers a view of a peat pool. The Zwarte Stern Route also runs through meadows and over narrow dikes. Near the Berkenwoudse Driehoek, a side path branches off the route to a birdwatching screen. The Berkenwoudse Driehoek lies northwest of the village of Berkenwoude in the Krimpenerwaard.

An important distinction when choosing how to get around: cycling is not possible within the polder, but is very easy on the surrounding polder roads. If you want to explore the paths through meadows and wooded areas, keep this difference in mind when planning. The surrounding roads are the right choice for cycling—not cycling through the area itself. On a wider scale, the Krimpenerwaard cycling network comprises 45 junctions and 153 kilometres of cycle routes.

Landscape and History of the Krimpenerwaard

The name Berkenwoude derives from a low-lying swamp forest that grew in the Krimpenerwaard before land reclamation began in the 11th century. The meadows around Berkenwoude, too, had nearly been transformed into lakes like the Berkenwoudsche Plassen near Reeuwijk. These historical connections extend beyond the place name and point to the landscape of the Krimpenerwaard.

Kooilust, a summer duck decoy with four catching pipes, lies northwest of Berkenwoude. Nooitgedacht, also known as Kooi van Verstoep, is likewise northwest of the village: a winter duck decoy with five catching pipes. The two named sites therefore differ both in whether they are designated summer or winter duck decoys and in the number of catching pipes.

Mills and Churches as Cultural Highlights

The Zuidbroekse Molen stands on the edge of the Zuidbroek polder. It is a so-called American wind engine, was built in 1922 and is made by the Hercules Metallicus brand. As the last surviving wind engine in Zuid-Holland, it is a special example of the region’s heritage. Its connection to the polder is specific: the mill stands at its edge.

Churches, too, can be placed in the context of the area’s history: the Schuurkerk Berkenwoude stands next to the Hervormde Kerk. The 36-kilometre-long “Kerkjes en Molens” route passes the Schuurkerk. Its length is a clear planning consideration in its own right; the route offers a different way to visit the cultural sites than a visit to the mill. When choosing what to include in your trip, you can weigh exploring the landscape against a longer route with a specific theme.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

The Berkenwoude polder is not accessible by public transport. If you are travelling by car, there is a large car park at the corner of Schaapjeszijde/Wellepoort in Ouderkerk aan den IJssel, as well as another at the corner of Tiendweg/Schaapjeszijde.

When choosing accommodation, you can start by deciding what matters most to you: polder trails and birdwatching, cycling on the surrounding polder roads, or the named mill and church sites. This makes it easy to tailor your stay to your interests, while the polder’s limited accessibility by public transport remains a separate planning consideration.

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