Rotterdam-exploration 05: along the Oude Maas to Dordrecht (26.08.2017)

© Helwig Hauser

© Helwig Hauser

Note that this track has been created from memory, i.e., it was not recorded automatically.

Trip Summary

This fifth exploration of Rotterdam by bike brought me to the southeast of Rotterdam. I cycled first towards Schiedam in the west of Rotterdam. At Vijfsluizen, I turned left (into southern direction) and headed towards the Benelux-tunnel that connects to the south underneath the Nieuwe Maas. It's really cool that cyclists have their own tunnel, in fact! On the souther side, I biked by Pernis, before I came to the enormous traffic line, which leads out to Europoort in the west (train tracks plus two highways next to each other). I followed this traffic line a bit towards the west so that I could circle Hoogvliet on its western side. After all, this also brought me towards the Oude Maas, along which I had planned to cycle towards Dordrecht. Doing so, I enjoyed the nice biking paths along the river, mostly through lovely green land close to the river. Close to Portland, then, I also explored an artifical hill (Oude Maasheuvel) from which one has some nice views across the flat country (also the skyline of Rotterdam is visible from there). I then continued along the Oude Maas further into southeastern direction, before I came to Zwijndrecht. There, I crossed the river to its other, eastern side, to get to Dordrecht. I circled the old town of Dordrecht a little, also including a nice break, not skipping its northern-most tip, where the river Beneden Merwede (coming from the east) splits into Noord (continuing into the north, as the name says, and later connecting to the Nieuwe Maas) and into the Oude Maas (continuing into southwestern direction). From there, after the break, I returned to Rotterdam on a bike path, which runs for quite a bit in parallel to the highway A16. Closer to the city center, I also got to see the big stadion of Feyenoord.

Photos

Selected photos are available as Google photo album.

Useful Resources

See also the FB-page Hiking around Bergen, Norway.