At high tide, the tidal channels and creeks in Crezéepolder fill with fresh water; at low tide, the mudflats emerge. An unpaved walking trail circles the entire landscape. Ridderkerk combines experiences like these with parks, bird habitats and historic sites—a destination whose highlights you can choose based on your interests.
Tidal Landscapes and Birdlife
Crezéepolder attracts numerous bird species, including many and often rare species such as the kingfisher, spoonbill, black-tailed godwit and teal. Beavers and distinctive dragonflies can also be spotted there. Ridderkerkse Griend offers a different landscape: this tidal nature area is directly connected to the Noord. Lush vegetation, excavated ditches and boardwalks define the area. Beavers and kingfishers live there, and a walking route is about two kilometres long.
Both areas bring you close to the tides and nature, but each has a different focus: in Crezéepolder, the contrast between the filled channels and the mudflats exposed at low tide is especially striking. In Ridderkerkse Griend, paths and boardwalks lead through a vegetated setting. De Gorzen offers another view of the landscape: a 22-metre-high hill and an observation tower provide views of Crezéepolder and Ridderkerkse Griend; on clear days, you can also see the windmills of Kinderdijk. In De Gorzen, greater mouse-eared and common pipistrelle bats hibernate in a 20-metre-long concrete tunnel that is more than 1.80 metres high and one metre wide.
Parks, Trails and Plants
Waalbos covers more than 200 hectares and combines woodland, groves, ponds with reed-fringed banks and open pastureland. It is a popular destination for walkers, nature lovers and nature photographers. In the De Nes nature area, between Pruimendijk and the A16, walking trails pass through tall grasses and colourful flowers, and by dragonflies. A winding gravel path runs through flower meadows with greater knapweed and ragged-robin.
At Reijerpark, you can enjoy a public collection of 287 different tree species while out walking. Oosterpark is about 64 hectares in size, around two kilometres long and approximately 300 metres wide. Its lawns and paths offer opportunities for walking, running, cycling and horse riding. East of the petting zoo are the Zwemvijver Oosterpark swimming pond and the Hondenstrandje dog beach; check the water conditions on site.
History in Buildings and Exhibitions
The Oudheidkamer is housed in a former school building dating from 1840, which was converted into a museum in the 1980s. Its exhibitions explore the history of shipbuilding, the “hard” and “soft” bakery trades, agriculture and flax processing. They also cover the history of Huys ten Donck and archaeological finds from Huis te Woude.
Singelkerk also brings together several periods: the surrounding Singel was laid out in 1602, and the present-day tower dates from 1643. The history of the church site goes back to a church from 1105—not the current building itself. Rijsoordse Korenmolen ‘de Kersenboom’ dates from 1822 and has been used again to mill spelt, barley and wheat since 1993. Ridderkerk currently has 158 municipal monuments and 56 Rijksmonumenten; these figures may change if monuments are newly designated or reclassified.
Walks, Cycling Routes and Getting There
Various nature walks start at the De Groene Draak nature and environmental education centre. Tree walks of five, ten and 15 kilometres are also available there. Walks and excursions through the former agricultural polder start at the De IJsvogel visitor centre. Check in advance which walks are currently available.
Cycling routes around Ridderkerk pass through nature areas, picturesque villages and landscapes steeped in history. You can cycle on the new Snelfietsroute F15 between Ridderkerk and IJsselmonde, which has been open since 2022. For a trip from Rotterdam to Kinderdijk, Waterbus line 21 runs from the Erasmus Bridge via a transfer at the Ridderkerk – De Schans stop to Kinderdijk; this connection is available year-round. Check the current timetable before travelling.
If you are looking for accommodation in Ridderkerk, you can plan your trip around the themes that interest you most: tidal landscapes and birdwatching, walks through parks, or the history of the area. A visit to Kinderdijk is another factor to consider when planning, as it involves the Waterbus connection. This lets you fit nature and cultural experiences, along with suitable transport, into your stay without combining every destination into a fixed itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Ridderkerk, Nederlek, Westvoorne, Oostflakkee, Schoonhoven, Lisse, Midden-Delfland, Alblasserdam.
Back to the main travel overview: South Holland.
