Krimpenerwaard Area

Krimpenerwaard is a low-lying polder region and municipality in South Holland in the Netherlands, created on 1 January 2015 by the merger of several former municipalities. It is a largely rural and agricultural landscape defined by reclaimed land, ditches and willow-lined waterways.

The area is notable for its network of narrow waterways, grazing meadows, and low dikes rather than a single focal attraction. Visitors typically use the extensive cycling and walking network to pass through traditional villages, windmills and riverside viewpoints; the landscape is especially valued for birdwatching and quiet rural recreation.

Krimpenerwaard was formed administratively by merging the former municipalities of Bergambacht, Nederlek, Ouderkerk, Schoonhoven and Vlist. The region’s layout and water-management infrastructure reflect centuries of Dutch polder engineering and ongoing agricultural use.

The Krimpenerwaard sits between the Lek and Hollandse IJssel rivers in the Rhine-Meuse delta, east of Rotterdam and south of Gouda. The terrain is flat and crisscrossed by small canals, with villages and farmsteads scattered across the polder.

• Active-transport routes: Extensive marked cycling and walking routes run across low-lying polder landscapes and along dikes, making non-motorized travel the easiest way to explore the area.
• Birdwatching seasons: Seasonal birdlife and open meadow habitats attract birdwatchers, with waterfowl and waders most numerous during spring and autumn migrations.

What to See#

• Schoonhoven: Historic riverside town known for its silverwork and a small silver museum; serves as one of the larger population centers and visitor bases within the Krimpenerwaard area.

The Krimpenerwaard is reachable by car or regional train and bus services from Rotterdam and Gouda; local cycling routes and dike paths make it especially friendly for bike exploration.

• Bring binoculars for birdwatching along the dikes-wading birds and migrants use the wetlands.
• Walk or cycle the network of paths for the best sense of the polder landscape.
• Observe the management practices-lock gates and drainage works are part of an engineered landscape that keeps the land arable.