Gorinchem River Cruise
About Gorinchem
The largest authentic fortified city in the Netherlands
Gorinchem is said to be the nicest fortified city in the Netherlands; it is also the largest fortified city in the country. The five-kilometre long city walls surrounding the city provide beautiful views over the rivers. Gorinchem used to be a strategic stronghold on the Old and New Dutch Waterline. Where ever you go, you relive part of that history. Just five minutes’ walk from the bustling, historic city centre is a perfect mooring location for river cruise ships. From here, passengers can walk to the city’s many attractions or use the nearby ferry service to explore the Fortress Triangle.
Activities in Gorinchem
City Walk with a Guide
See the city’s historical highlights on foot and listen to true stories about Gorinchem. From the Martyrs of Gorkum and adventurer Hendrick Hamel, to Napoleon, and Hugo Grotius’s daring escape from prison in a book chest.
Explore the mills
As you walk along the wall, you will come across two stone flour mills. Once, these were the places where grain was ground into flour. Mill De Hoop dates from 1764, mill Nooit Volmaakt was built in 1718.
Hendrick Hamel Museum
Hendrick Hamel was a heroic seaman from Gorinchem. Thanks to his travel log that he wrote for the VOC (Dutch East India Company), Hamel is regarded as the man who discovered Korea. The house where he was born is now home to a museum.
Climb the Tower
The Great Tower can be seen from far and wide. It is the most striking building in Gorinchem’s city centre, but it’s even more fun to climb the tower yourself and experience the fantastic views across the rivers.
Gorcums Museum
The Gorcums Museum tells the story of the city, has a collection of paintings by Dutch Golden Age artists, and also exhibits contemporary art from Gorinchem. There is a special area dedicated to the Martyrs of Gorkum.
Workshops/tastings
The center of Gorinchem has many specialty shops for food and crafts. Think of Sweet Ima or Kaatje Jans. The enthusiastic entrepreneurs welcome your guests for a tasting or workshop.
The Fortified Triangle (Vestingdriehoek)
The Fortified Triangle is the only place in the world where you can visit two fortified towns, one castle and one fort in a single day.
The Fortress Triangle consists of Gorinchem together with the nearby town of Woudrichem, Loevestein Castle, and Fort Vuren. The area is one of the most beautiful parts of the new Dutch Waterline, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2021. In the past, the castle, the fort and the fortifications were all intended to stop the enemy. Nowadays, the gates are wide open. With numerous ferry connections across the Rivers Merwede, Waal and Meuse (in Dutch: Afgedamde Maas), the entire Fortress Triangle, but also National Park the Brabantse Biesbosch, are within easy reach.
Activities in the Fortress Triangle
Castle Loevestein
The ferry arrives and leaves from the stop immediately in front of the castle gateway. This castle is the place from which legal scholar Hugo Grotius escaped in a book chest, but it also has plenty more fascinating stories to tell.
Woudrichem City Walk
Discover this authentic fortified city, located at the spot where the rivers Meuse and Waal meet, and known for its history of freshwater fishing.
Fort Vuren
For almost 200 years, Fort Vuren has stood proudly the floodplains of the River Waal. The fortification was built in 1844 as part of the New Dutch Waterline to prevent the enemy from advancing westwards.
Biesbosch museum Island
A short ferry trip to Werkendam takes you to the edge of Natonal Park the Brabants Biesbosch. This is the largest freshwater tidal area in Europe.
Passenger jetty in Gorinchem
About
Facilities
Gorinchem’s outer harbour, the Tweede Voorhaven, which is situated on the Boven Merwede, has a jetty for river cruise ships. The fortified city offers a perfect mooring location with room for two ships of up to 135 metres in length. The jetty is in the park area called Buiten de Waterpoort.
Location
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