The oldest elements of the foundations of the Nederlands Hervormde Kerk date from before 1000. As far as is known, the church is considered Sliedrecht’s oldest building and is a Rijksmonument. This early landmark leads straight into the town’s history; Sliedrecht is also situated on the Beneden-Merwede. The town can be explored through a variety of traces: at memorial sites and museums, as well as along historic routes and through parks and landscapes.

Museums tracing local and industrial history

The Sliedrechts Museum in the Kerkbuurt is a Rijksmonument and includes the former town hall and the former Kantongerecht. A permanent exhibition and regularly changing exhibitions are devoted to Sliedrecht. Through words and images, the museum presents the town’s history from the year 1000 to the present day. The long historical arc and the building’s former functions offer two perspectives: on Sliedrecht’s development and on the building’s past use.

The Nationaal Baggermuseum focuses on a different subject. It is housed in a historic building on Molendijk in Sliedrecht and presents the present and past of the dredging industry in Sliedrecht. While the Sliedrechts Museum focuses on the town’s history over a long period, this museum turns its attention to one industry. In this way, a broad historical overview and a clearly defined subject sit side by side, each offering a different perspective.

Historic routes with different options

Visitors who want to explore Sliedrecht’s history on foot can choose the Struikelstenen Sliedrecht walking route. It passes all the Stolpersteine laid in Sliedrecht and offers a way to discover the town’s history. Routes of 7.5 km and 11.5 km are available; without using public transport, the route can be 14.5 km long. For the return journey from Baanhoek station to Sliedrecht station, the long section uses a train.

The Monumentenroute in Sliedrecht offers another historical perspective: it is 14 km long, can be completed on foot or by bicycle, and can be shortened at several points. This makes for a practical difference when planning your route: the Struikelstenen route has specified distances and requires a train journey back on the long section, while the Monumentenroute can be shortened at several points.

Parks, water and landscapes

The Dr.-W.-Dreespark offers space to walk among greenery. The Burgemeester Feitsmapark has a petting zoo. For a combination of walking and a trip on the water, the municipality recommends taking the Waterbus. Check the timetable in advance if you plan to combine the two.

The area around the Alblasserwaard features a polder landscape with extensive pastures, beautiful nature, and characteristic farms and villages. The Merwelanden area and De Biesbosch National Park are also home to diverse flora and fauna. De Biesbosch National Park is known as a landscape of a tangle of waterways, willow forests, reed beds and hidden river wilderness. The view thus extends from individual parks to landscapes, each with its own distinctive regional character.

Discover more destinations: Rijnwoude, Kaag En Braassem, Zoetermeer, Westland, Leiderdorp, Brielle, Reeuwijk, Krimpen Aan Den Ijssel

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