Kedichem: Linge, Dikes and Village History
Accommodation in Kedichem
Holiday rental in Kedichem between the Linge and village history
Kedichem is situated on the Linge and combines river landscapes, dike history, nature and remarkable traces from many centuries. If you are planning a holiday rental in Kedichem, you can experience the character of the village through walks, cycling tours, nature observation and cultural-historical discoveries. The landscape shapes the way you spend your holiday: you can follow the course of the river, take in the distinctive features of the dike landscape or explore the history of the village.
File:Kedichem RM Lingedijk 11 Boerderij 14052024.jpg
Photo: AcroniusZ via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A dike village on a river bend
Kedichem originated around the year 1000 as a dike village on a riverbank ridge at a bend in the Linge. The Noorderlingedijk, constructed outside the dike, led to the development of a village structure with two axes. This development is one of Kedichem’s defining features and also makes the village appealing to travellers who want to discover not only the landscape but also its evolving village history during their stay.
Scour ponds, dike and paths along the Linge
Along the dike near Kedichem are the “Wielen”. These are ponds that formed after historic dike breaches. In Kedichem, visitors can use walking routes along the Linge and experience the proximity of the watercourse, dike and open countryside on foot. The Wielen give the surroundings their own distinctive landscape character and add a visible piece of dike history to the paths along the river.
Cycling tours in spring and ice skating in winter
A cycling tour along the Linge is particularly appealing in spring, when the fruit trees are in bloom. This gives the village a clear seasonal highlight for active days out. In winter, IJsclub De Linge offers ice skating on its own rink. Walking, cycling and winter sports can thus be enjoyed as different experiences around Kedichem, without the village being limited to just one type of holiday.
Nature between Leerdam and Arkel
The grasslands along the Linge near Kedichem are important breeding and resting areas for birds. The great crested newt population near Kedichem is also known from a pond located inside the dike that has a large population of sticklebacks. The great crested newt populations near Kedichem and Oosterwijk are located along the Linge between Leerdam and Arkel. Their habitat comprises extensively managed grassland and deciduous woodland along the Linge, as well as adjacent farmsteads located inside the dike. For nature enthusiasts, this creates a tangible landscape made up of riverbanks, meadows, woodland and an agriculturally shaped surroundings.
Cultural-historical details in the village
The tower of the Hervormde Kerk in Kedichem is protected as a separate national monument under number 23542. The church has an eighteenth-century single-manual organ from Sleen. The belfry contains a bell by P. van Trier from 1625 with a diameter of 105 cm. The historic building stock also includes the farm at Lingedijk 13, which probably dates from the eighteenth century. Alongside nature and outdoor activities, such specific details give a stay in Kedichem an additional cultural-historical dimension.
Other nearby places for orientation: Leerdam, Oosterwijk, Leerdam.
For the broader travel overview: Leerdam.
