A distinctive nature attraction for a stay in Ridderkerk is the Crezéepolder: this 50-hectare tidal nature reserve lies between Ridderkerk and Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht. It is one of the rare freshwater tidal areas in the Netherlands and northwestern Europe. Mill history, local collections and memorial sites also reveal different facets of the area. You can therefore focus on nature or history, depending on your travel interests.
Tidal Landscapes and Trails
An unpaved walking trail runs around the entire Crezéepolder. You may walk on the trails in and around the area between sunrise and sunset. This time limit is something to consider when planning your visit: access rules may change, so check the latest information before setting out. The route offers a way to explore the polder as one continuous natural area; however, the route information does not specify a particular walking time.
The Ridderkerkse Griend is on the northwestern side of the Crezéepolder. It is an old willow coppice with narrow paths and bridges. Beavers, kingfishers and woodpeckers find a habitat there. In spring, the rare marsh marigold blooms; also in spring, nearly 100 pairs of avocets nest in the Crezéepolder, though the number can vary by season. These details describe different nature-watching opportunities and do not guarantee that you will see any particular animals during a visit.
In the area around Ridderkerk, the Crezéepolder has two birdwatching hides and two viewpoints overlooking the De Noord river. De Gorzen offers a different landscape feature: the park has a 22-metre-high hill, with an observation tower at its highest point. The polder with its circular trail and the hill with its observation tower are different options for a nature trip.
Mill and Local History
The Rijsoordse Molen is a grain windmill of the grondzeiler type and a listed national monument dating from 1822. It is operational and grinds wheat, spelt and rye into fine flour. Visitors are welcome to learn more about how it works, including its rotating sails and occasionally grinding millstones. If you are planning a specific visit to the mill, check in advance whether it is open to visitors.
The Museum Ridderkerk Oudheidkamer is housed in a former village school dating from 1840. Its permanent exhibition presents the history of Ridderkerk and displays many objects typical of the town. It also hosts temporary exhibitions on various topics, around eight to ten per year. The permanent local history exhibition is complemented by a changing program of exhibitions.
Buildings also tell the story of different periods in the town’s history. The Singelkerk was rebuilt after the St. Elizabeth’s flood of 1421 and dedicated to Saint George in 1452. The Singel around the church was laid out in 1620 and gave the church its name. On Pruimendijk, the Vlasroterij is one of the few surviving flax retting houses in the Netherlands. Gebouw U, meanwhile, is a listed national monument and one of the last reminders of the Industrial Revolution in Ridderkerk.
Huys ten Donck is a historic country house on an estate dating from 1746. Kasteelruïne Te Woude has a different building history: construction began in 1372, but was halted after the Riederwaard was flooded, and the castle was never completed. In 1969, the ruin was reinforced and partially restored. These different traces of the past make for a varied range of historical subjects, from the country estate to religious and industrial heritage and an unfinished castle.
Harbour and Memorial Sites
The harbour of Ridderkerk lies on the Nieuwe Maas and the Noord. It includes two marinas as well as an industrial harbour, reflecting the harbour’s different uses. This information describes its composition; it does not indicate what visitor facilities are available or whether access is possible.
There are also specific places of remembrance. A monument in Vredehof Cemetery commemorates those who were killed or died in Ridderkerk and elsewhere during the Second World War. Vredehof is also a park-like cemetery with a distinctive collection of trees from North America and Asia. At the war memorial in Rusthof Cemetery, a two-minute silence is observed every year on May 4 as part of the Dutch Dodenherdenking. These memorial sites add a distinct historical perspective to the area’s natural and architectural history.
For the broader travel overview: Ridderkerk.
