Ronde Biesbosch and Land van Altena

The route starts in Oud-Heusden, and goes clockwise. You immediately cross the Bergse Maas via Heesbeen and then you follow the Maas. That is often within dikes, but between Drongelen and Dussen you cycle on a paved cycle path on top of the dike (you have to brave 75 meters of cobblestones to get on the bike path). Along part of this bike path, cattle can graze freely, so you can cycle right past cows (and have to be aware of cowflies on the path!). Via the hamlet of Peerenboom you come to Hank and dive into the Biesbosch. That means first cycle path on the dike along the important waterway, called the Steurgat. You can also choose to ignore the non-mandatory cycle path and cycle along the dike. However, then you cycle inside the dike and you have no view of the Biesbosch. You will eventually arrive in Werkendam where the route will also end up on your return. So that means that after crossing the Biesbosch lock you have to quickly turn left again via the other side of the Steurgat. Now you cycle on good roads (no cycle path) some of which are closed to car traffic (except for local traffic) through beautiful nature and flood plains and swamps.

At the Biesbosch museum island you will come on a cycle path along the main road, until you go up the Merwededijk. You quickly leave the river dike of the Merwede to cycle on quiet roads through the Noordwaardpolder, once an agricultural area, now a flood zone with grazing Scottish Highlanders, Konik horses and water buffalo. Then you go on a cycle path along the Bandijk through the Kievitswaard and then again on car-free roads along the Merwede.
You arrive in Werkendam again and then you go over winding dike roads along the Merwede and then through the old fortified town of Woudrichem. Then you go over winding dike roads along the Dammed Maas and finally cross the Bergse Maas again. You then pass through the old fortified town of Heusden and then it is another kilometer to the end point.

Please note: because you cycle through the Noordwaard, which is a flood zone, it is possible that during prolonged rainy periods the Noordwaard will be blank. This also applies to the roads in this area.