A fun day out in Woudrichem

Gorcum, written as Gorinchem, is on the border of the provinces of Gelderland, Brabant and Zuid-Holland. It is no wonder that Gorcum has an interesting history due to its strategic location on the Merwede and Meuse rivers. You can feel this history in Hotel Karel de Stoute which is situated on the Merwede. Within the hotel are ruins of Kasteel de Blauwe Toren, once a strategic base for Karel de Stoute also known as “Charles of Burgundy”

Do you want to get to know Gorcum and its surroundings? It is easily done on foot or by bike. The fortress city of Woudrichem is within walking distance; take the ferry which is some 50 metres from the hotel and after a short 15-minute trip you will find yourself on the other side. Woudrichem is a small, orderly town, situated on the dammed-up Meuse and Merwede; it is known for its salmon industry. Here you can find and eat fresh salmon, caught in the Merwede. Not every day, of course, as this fish has become too rare; but it is especially delicious and cannot be compared to the salmon you find in the shops.
The salmon fishers share their berths with the brown fleet ships. The harbour runs from the mooring point of the ferry via the city wall to the inner harbour, a fun walk that starts immediately after arrival at the former dungeon.

You can walk on top of the city wall and see the inner harbour on the right. The inner harbour houses an historic slipway and a floating restaurant. You can wander along the inner harbour or you can choose to follow the city wall to the east side of Woudrichem. There you will find a foot ferry (bicycles are allowed as well) that will transport you across the dammed-up Meuse and on to Slot Loevestein. Then from Loevesteinyou can continue your adventure with the ferry or water taxi. You can cross over to Fort Vuren and from there return to Gorcum by bike or on foot. Or you can decide to travel a bit further and go to Zaltbommel by ferry or bike.