On the Het Bellopad, you can hike for around five hours between Mijdrecht and Abcoude through a landscape of nature, culture and surprising views. There is also a two-hour hike starting in Abcoude. Historic forts and mills are central to Abcoude’s history, and hiking trails lead through the polder landscape.

Forts and the history of defence

Fort bij Abcoude is the oldest fort in the Stelling van Amsterdam. It was built between 1884 and 1887 as part of this defensive line and is designated both a Rijksmonument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort comprises a main building, a powder magazine, a water cistern and sleeping quarters; its outer walls are 1.8 metres thick.

A 10-kilometre hiking route leads from Fort bij Abcoude to Fort Nigtevecht. The Batterij aan het Gein is an earthwork fortification at the end of the Liniewal Geindijk-Nigtevecht in Abcoude. In addition, two enclosed earthworks were built between 1800 and 1810 near the Oostzijdse Molen, on either side of the Gein. Both earthworks are part of the area’s defensive history.

Mills and polder water

The present-day Molen Oostzijdsch was built after its predecessor burned down when it was struck by lightning on 2 August 1873. Until 1950, the mill drained the 830-hectare Oostzijdse Polder. The Broekzijdse Molen represents a different period: it was built in 1641 as a binnenkruier and drained the 317-hectare Broekzijds Polder until 1980. It discharged the water into the Gein.

At 830 hectares, the Oostzijdse Polder was larger than the Broekzijds Polder, which covered 317 hectares. Drainage ended at the Molen Oostzijdsch in 1950 and at the Broekzijdse Molen in 1980—three decades later.

Choose a walk by duration and landscape

On the Het Bellopad, you can compare two different duration options. The hike between Mijdrecht and Abcoude takes around five hours. The Abcoude–Baambrugge return walk is described as a two-hour hike; it starts at Restaurant De Witte Dame in Abcoude. The longer route links nature, culture and surprising views in a varied area, while the shorter option has a clearly defined walking time.

Another option is the Ouder-Amstel Route. It leads from Abcoude along small polder paths beside the Waver, through the Botshol nature reserve and on to the Amstel. So the routes differ not only in duration: the Het Bellopad has two stated time frames, while the Ouder-Amstel Route is defined by its sequence of polder paths, the Waver, Botshol and the Amstel. This can help you choose a walk based on whether you want to prioritise the time available or the route through the landscape.

Feestweek and a listed church

Feestweek Abcoude is a five-day village festival centred around the historic horse market. Its main event is still held on the last Thursday in August; the specific dates vary from year to year. The programme includes a historic horse market, a prize competition and ring-jousting competitions for riders and carriages. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for your travel year.

The church at Kerkplein 45 in Abcoude is also a Rijksmonument. Fort bij Abcoude is likewise a Rijksmonument and is additionally designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Discover more destinations: Mijdrecht, Baambrugge, De Hoef, Vinkeveen.

Go to the wider travel overview: De Ronde Venen.