Krimpenerwaard and Reeuwijkse Plassen

The Landscape

The Krimpenerwaard is a characteristic peat meadow region, nestled between the rivers Lek and Hollandse IJssel. Where you'll now see grazing cows, narrow meadows, winding peat streams, and glistening ditches, there once lay a vast marshland. Around a thousand years ago, this wetland was carefully reclaimed during the Middle Ages, resulting in the distinctive pattern of long, narrow plots, some just a few dozen metres wide. Due to the soggy peat soil, arable farming was nearly impossible, but the land proved perfect for cattle grazing. To this day, milk from the region is still turned into traditional farmer’s cheese, often right on historic farms that are still in operation.

Just north of Gouda lie the Reeuwijkse Plassen, a unique peat meadow landscape shaped by centuries of peat extraction. The area is defined by long, narrow lakes, slender plots, reed beds, and green meadows, all typical features of the traditional Dutch cultural landscape. Cycling along narrow lanes between the lakes, you’ll experience the charm of the old polderland, with its wooden embankments, reed fields, dikes, and idyllic farm tracks. The constant interplay of water, land, and sky makes this one of the most scenic and water-rich landscapes in South Holland.