In Vlaardingen, natural areas meet a city history closely connected with fishing and water. The Broekpolder makes up a large part of the city’s landscape: this nature and recreation area covers a quarter of Vlaardingen’s municipal area. For planning your trip, it offers a different perspective on the place from the historical themes in the city centre.
Nature in the Broekpolder
De Ruigte is a nature reserve in the Broekpolder. Open spaces, bodies of water and diverse vegetation define the area; it is also home to a herd of Scottish Highland cattle. Klauterwoud offers a different focus: its adventurous outdoor play area gives children space to play. So if you’re exploring Vlaardingen with children, you’ll find a specific nature-focused attraction here, while De Ruigte is characterised primarily by its landscape.
Masamuda is also located in Vlaardingen’s Broekpolder, but looks back to the past. This educational archaeological open-air site reconstructs buildings from prehistoric times and the Middle Ages, bringing the distant past to life. The combination of historic building styles and the natural area makes Masamuda a distinctive cultural-history stop within the Broekpolder.
Archaeology, technology and city history
Molen Aeolus adds another piece of history: this authentic gallery windmill dates from 1790. Its traditional mechanism converts wind power into mechanical energy, which is used to grind grain using traditional methods. Masamuda illustrates past building styles; Aeolus, by contrast, shows how wind power was put to work in a specific craft.
The history of Museum Vlaardingen dates back to the founding of the Vlaardingsche Oudheidkamer en Visscherijmuseum in 1920. The city’s cultural history also includes three areas designated as a protected townscape of national importance and cultural-historical significance. At Koningin Wilhelminahaven, the rich history of herring fishing and maritime heritage take centre stage. These themes give Vlaardingen’s city history distinct points of focus: the history of its museum institutions, protected townscapes and the city’s connection with the harbour.
The VL.92 Balder also tells the story of fishing. The ship was originally a sailing logger used for herring fishing with drift nets. Today, it is moored at Westhavenkade 54 in the centre of Vlaardingen, opposite the museum. Visitors interested in the maritime past can trace the connection between this historic fishing vessel and the harbour’s herring-fishing history.
Walk through Vlaardingen’s past
The historic “Water” city walk explores Vlaardingen’s fishing past, how the city has dealt with water and the regulation of harbour water levels. It therefore has a thematic focus, while Expeditie Vlaardingen brings the history of the city centre to life through audio, video and augmented reality. Both experiences explore the city’s history, but present it in different ways: “Water” through a walk and its themes, and Expeditie Vlaardingen through digital media.
Other walking routes in Vlaardingen pass through historic streets and by murals, combining views of the built-up city with public artworks. For a different perspective on the city and its surroundings, a guided tour of the Grote Kerk tower takes you up to the “Trans”, about 38 metres high, with views across Vlaardingen and the surrounding area. The tower dates from 1746 and houses the bellows of the church organ as well as the Oranjecarillon. The climb involves steep stairs; check whether a tour is available on your planned visit date before making plans.
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