Bergambacht: Castle History, Windmill and Nespolder

History and Buildings

The former 's Heeraartsberg Castle was demolished in 1909; today, an apartment complex stands in its place, whose name and design recall the former castle.

The Den Arend grain mill was built in 1869 to replace a small wooden post mill dating from 1553.

A restored bridge stands at Hoeve Tusschenlanen. It was built from hand-moulded IJssel bricks. The bricks match those of the neighbouring house. The house dates from 1661. Based on this similarity, the bridge is estimated to be around 360 years old. This age remains an estimate based on comparison with the neighbouring house.

The buildings preserve different historical traces: for the castle, its construction, mention, demolition and remembrance in the present-day complex have been documented. Den Arend, by contrast, represents a mill built explicitly to replace an older, small wooden structure. At Hoeve Tusschenlanen, the bridge's dating is based on its surviving brickwork and the neighbouring house from 1661.

Landscape and Nature

Bergambacht was built on a donk. A donk is a sandy hill. This donk remains the highest point in the Krimpenerwaard.

A path through the meadows in the Nespolder runs from post to post. After rain, sturdy footwear or even rubber boots may be required on this path.

Meadow birds and marsh birds can be observed in the Nespolder. Meadow birds stay in wet meadows, while marsh birds inhabit reed beds.

The landscape thus connects the elevated settlement site of the donk with the wet habitats of the Nespolder. After rain, the equipment mentioned above should be taken into account for the path through the meadows. When observing birds, wet meadows and reed beds are the two distinct areas mentioned where they stay.

Farm Produce and Local Shops

Melkvee- en Kaasboerderij Schep in Bergambacht produces Gouda cheese according to a family recipe. The milk for the cheese is produced on the farm itself.

The farm shop of Kaasboerderij Schep is located at Zuidbroek 153, 2861 LL Bergambacht, and is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

At the Mengelmoestuin shop, visitors can taste and buy jams and jellies made from fruit and herbs harvested in its own garden.

The Mengelmoestuin is open for “Tuin & Thee” every Friday afternoon from April to September, from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

The farm produce focuses on in-house production and processing: milk from the farm is made into Gouda cheese according to a family recipe, while the Mengelmoestuin uses fruit and herbs from its own harvest in its jams and jellies. The farm shop and “Tuin & Thee” have different, clearly stated opening hours.

Other Places

The same overarching area also includes Berkenwoude.

Cycling Route

The “Schipper mag ik overvaren” cycling route crosses several ferry connections.

To the main travel overview: Bergambacht.