Old Ports and Fortifications

While foreigners may instantly think of cheese when they hear “Gouda,” most Dutch people think instead of the historic town located at the confluence of the Hollandse IJssel and the Gouwe rivers. Gouda is known for its Sint-Janskerk (St. John’s Church), whose ancient stained glass windows have miraculously survived the iconoclastic period. On the Markt square, with its richly decorated 15th-century town hall and turrets, a popular weekly Cheese Market takes place during the summer months. Surrounding the Markt are the city's most beautiful streets and busiest shopping areas.

A former fortified town at the confluence of the Meuse and Linge rivers. You can walk along the city ramparts, explore the bastioned fortifications (including the Dalempoort gate from 1597), and see 16th‑century houses like “Dit is Bethlehem” and “‘t Coemt al van God.”

Vesting Heusden is a beautifully restored fortified town in the Dutch province of North Brabant, located along the Bergsche Maas. This historic jewel on the Meuse is home to charming shops, elegant galleries, spacious harbors, and welcoming terraces. On Sunday afternoons, the shops stay open, and you can join a guided walking tour at 2:30 p.m. Built around one of the oldest water castles in Northwestern Europe, Heusden was among the first Dutch cities to be entirely walled. Its rich historical heritage has been carefully revived , wherever you walk or look, the past comes back to life. From atop the city walls, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views over the Brabant countryside, the Gelderland region, the Bergsche Maas, and the fully restored town. Wandering through its picturesque streets and narrow alleys reveals dozens of well-preserved historic buildings with beautiful stone façades that give the city its uniquely warm character. Despite its 134 registered monuments, Heusden isn’t an open-air museum , it’s a lively place where people live, work, and enjoy life. The layout of the town dates back to the Middle Ages, and the fortified walls, cannons overlooking the river, windmills, cobbled streets, and fortified harbor all preserve the authentic atmosphere of times past. A visit to Heusden is like stepping into history , and walking right back into the present.

The Zandmeren area near Kerkdriel offers sandy beaches, swimming, biking trails, and restaurants like Dukdalf, Pavilion 212, or Brandend Zand for a relaxing end to your journey.