Pelgrims Path part 05

2026-08-01 17:00

Hiked part 5/27 of the Pelgrims Path, 18.82 kilometres from Reeuwijk to Haastrecht.

You walk right through the Reeuwijkse Plassen along the narrow lanes that separate the lakes. In 1657 four felled ash trees were said to have supernatural powers when a wood chip fell into the water, sank, and floated back up covered with crosses and images of Mary.

Hike report

Reeuwijkse Plassen

Dark wooden house with solar panels on the roof, set among trees beside a canal covered with water lilies Calm residential canal with lily pads, a small footbridge, and houses reflected in the still water under a bright sun Sandy swimming beach on the Reeuwijkse Plassen with a line of yellow buoy markers stretching into open water Gravel path curving along the shore of a lake, with reeds on the left and trees casting shade on the right View across a wide lake framed by bushes and a willow tree under a clear blue sky Large brick house with a red tiled roof and grey timber bay, set in a manicured garden with hostas and a lily pond Wide calm lake of the Reeuwijkse Plassen with reed beds in the foreground and houses on the far shore Mirror-still lake under a cloudless blue sky with a duck leaving a wake across the water Purple loosestrife on the bank of a glassy lake with a duck swimming in the distance

Paths and ditches

Asphalt cycle path lined with trees on the right and a reed-fringed ditch with yellow water plants on the left White steel bascule bridge over a canal with long shadows of the truss cast across the road deck Narrow waterway bordered by purple loosestrife and tall green reeds Shaded dirt path under trees heavy with orange rowan berries, a ditch on the right Small grey boat among purple flowers at the edge of a reed-lined canal running into open polder

Polder and the Lancaster memorial

Memorial plaque for the crew of Lancaster bomber W4963, shot down on 12 June 1943, set in a grassy polder Curving reed-lined ditch through green polder fields under a bright blue sky Grey heron perched on a fence post beside a metal gate in a wetland of reeds and shallow pools Purple loosestrife in the foreground before a wide green meadow and distant farm buildings Two brown hares sitting in a bright green meadow with farm buildings in the background

Nieuwerbrug

Brick building with a small clock tower and the name Lekdijk above the window, behind a black iron fence White drawbridge at Prinses Beatrixkade with thatched and brick houses under a clear blue sky Thatched brick house and a small wooden boat on a canal lined with houses and a moored cabin cruiser Narrow brick-paved alley between a white cottage and dense garden shrubs

Open country

White and brown sheep grazing along a grassy dyke with reeds and open polder beyond Wooden jetty on a still pond with farmhouses reflected among reeds under a blue sky with white clouds Narrow country lane with a bright red truck approaching between a grassy bank and garden fences Vintage red Scania flatbed truck carrying classic red International tractors along a village street Country road beside a ditch running under a line of tall electricity pylons across open polder Herd of black and white cows drinking from a ditch, reflected in the water under a blue sky with white clouds Two mute swans and a grey cygnet swimming on a canal with green fields and a distant town on the horizon Steel electricity pylon in a green field with black silage bales, a trailer, and a French flag hanging from the frame Ripe blackberries and green and red unripe fruit among sunlit bramble leaves White butterfly on purple flowers among green leaves with blue water reflected behind

Canals and wildlife

Long straight canal reflecting white clouds, with a duck on the water and green polder fields on both sides Great crested grebe swimming on a canal with a green grassy bank behind Large flock of coots gathered on a canal beside a fringe of reeds Great crested grebe on the water holding a small fish in its bill Narrow grassy path hemmed in by tall reeds under a blue sky with white clouds Electricity pylon beside a ditch and a field of maize under a sky of heavy white and grey cloud Pair of mute swans with four cygnets on a canal, sheep grazing in the meadow beyond

Towards Haastrecht

Three horses, one piebald and two bay, grazing in a dry paddock beside a small ditch Brick-paved residential street at Esdoornstraat with hedges, young trees, and a red and white trail marker Canal with white cabin boats moored along a grassy bank and houses under a sky of dark and white cloud Green bascule bridge over a canal bearing the sign Welkom in Haastrecht, with brick apartments beyond

Map

Details

Data	Value
From	Reeuwijk
To	Haastrecht
Distance	18.82 km
Duration	4h 26m
Speed	4.25 km/h
Elevation gain	94 m
Weather	23°C, Sunny, 77% humidity

More info

Enjoyed this post?

Well, you could share the post with others, follow me via Social Media or RSS Feeds and/or send me a comment via email.