City Walk Heusden -. Zuiderwaterlinie

Exploring the fortified town of Heusden
Heusden is one of the eleven fortified towns of the Zuiderwaterlinie. Follow the nodes and get carried away by the special historic atmosphere of this Brabant fortified town. You walk outside the ramparts surrounding Heusden, giving you a nice view of the ramparts and the town. You then enter the fortress through the Wijk gate. The walking route takes you past the beautifully reconstructed Veerpoort, also called Waterpoort. The rich history of Heusden is almost tangible in every stone. Here you can imagine yourself in the 17th century, walking through the ancient streets. Stroll along the stately buildings with art galleries, boutiques and top restaurants. The harbor offers beautiful views of the nostalgic standerd mills and bridges. During your stroll, have a drink at the cozy Vismarkt or Botermarkt.

Strategically located on the river Maas, fortified town Heusden was an important link between the city of 's-Hertogenbosch and nature reserve De Biesbosch. For protection, Heusden was one of the first Dutch cities to be equipped with a city wall. After 1968, the fortified town underwent large-scale restoration that preserved much of its history. The restorations earned Heusden the prestigious Europa Nostra restoration award.

Walk along the Zuiderwaterlinie
Discover the Zuiderwaterlinie, the oldest, longest and most utilized waterline in the Netherlands. A unique chain of 11 Brabant fortified towns, forts and entrenchments, connected by the typical Dutch story of defending with water.

Legacy of an eventful past
For centuries, the Zuiderwaterlinie served to protect the country from attack. The water line runs all the way from Bergen op Zoom to Grave. Everywhere along the line you will find traces of an eventful past. Beautiful city monuments remind of the time the soldiers stood at the gate. You can visit many of these monuments. Outside the fortified towns are forts, entrenchments, lunettes and redoubts. The provinces have made room for cozy hospitality.

Zuiderwaterlinie hiking trail
The Zuiderwaterlinie hiking trail is a 290-kilometer walking route and is plotted along the Brabant walking junction system. Walk from one node to the next. Tip: Discover the Zuiderwaterlinie with the Zuiderwaterlinie hiking book. It contains 17 detailed sub-maps of the route and richly illustrated background information. Order the Zuiderwaterlinie hiking book.