Today, my destination is the Steendijkpolder in Maassluis. This was also my starting point when I started the Grote Rivierenpad towards Hoek van Holland (which, by the way, I did not write a blog post about).
The end of the Great rivers trail is still a long distance away; it is even in Germany, in Kleve. But this time, I did finish my first round trip around and through Rotterdam on this trail. In a previous blog post, I mentioned that I had skipped a bit of the trail near Maassluis. Today, I can finish this part. Although my plan turned out to be quite different. You can already see it on the map.

To Maassluis via Rozenburg
I get off at a different bus stop than where I got on last time. This way, I can see another part of Rozenburg. I get off in the centre of the town. There is a small shopping centre here; most of the shops are still closed. I walk towards the Boulevard where I have to take the ferry. I pass the windmill called de Hoop.

I walk through a couple of residential areas and once on the Boulevard, I go up the dyke and turn left. I can already see the ferry further on. At the ferry dock, I buy a ticket from the dispenser and wait 10 minutes for the ferry to arrive.
Another 10 minutes later I am on the other side in Maassluis. I immediately turn left and walk along the Nieuwe Waterweg for a while. The ferry is already on its way back.
Ferry Rozenburg – Maassluis View from the ferry View from the ferry The ferry goes back to Rozenburg
I turn right on the Burgemeester de Jongkade and walk through the harbour with old ships. Further on, at the sluice, I go up a flight of steps, the steps have a nice pattern of fish. I cross the road and walk straight ahead to the point where I started the hike in my first blog post.
Ship at the harbour in Maassluis Ship at the harbour in Maassluis Fish pattern on the side of the steps
I walk through the harbour again with its beautiful facades and ships. I pass the red mail box again. I have to turn left there. Last time I went straight on, so I didn’t quite follow the route back then. Nice that it is different now.
A little further on I turn right into the Veerstraat Zuidzijde. I pass the Markt and I am in doubt whether to have a coffee and a piece of pie at the pie shop. I just started my hike so I decide not to and go on. A little later, I have to turn right at the P.C. Hooftlaan and immediately take the first left on the Zuidvliet. I have been here before. Further on I have to go around a school and end up on the Wipperskade, again alongside the little windmill (for photos see my earlier blog post). At the end of the path I reach a busy road. I cross over and turn left. At the junction I turn right and immediately left again. Last time I went straight on here.
Maasland
I am now walking through Maasland along the water on the Kluiskade. Maasland is a beautiful village with picturesque streets and little bridges.
I pass two different churches: the Maria Magdalena Church and the Oude Kerk. After following a long winding path along the water I have to cross a small bridge on my right.
Church at Maasland Illustration Oude Kerk at Maasland Small bridge at Maasland
At the General Cemetery on the Hofsingel I turn left. After the children’s farm I take the path Klein huis ter Velde. This is the last part towards the Steendijkpolder, about 4 km to go. First I take a break on a bench before I start the last part.
General cemetery at Maasland Atalanta butterfly resting on the warm pavement View from the bench at Maasland
The last part…
The path winds through the fields and then past a chicken run and a few houses. Further on, there is a small campsite. Along the paved path is also a path of broken roof tiles. This gives a nice effect of orange and green colours.
Path of broken roof tiles Illustration path of broken roof tiles
After the campsite, the paved path turns into a grassy path. The path runs along a cornfield. After the cornfield I turn left. A lonely tree is next to the path. I go straight ahead, but I have a feeling that I am not going the right way. I take a look in my trail booklet, I think I should have just turned right. I go back to the lonely tree and there I see the sign that I have missed.
Grass path along cornfield Lonely tree
In the distance, I see a herd of cows. I think: hopefully, the cows are fenced off. When I get closer, I see that this is not the case. There are about 20 cows in the filed that I have to pass. There is no way I can walk around the herd. I don’t mind one or two cows on my path, but a whole herd…. I cannot go on here.
By now, I am quite annoyed and go back along the same path. On Google maps, I see whether I can go somewhere else to get to my destination. I turn right again at the lonely tree. While moping, I hope that I can turn right again further on. I see that at the end of the path, there is a shelter for pets. The closer I get, the louder the dogs start barking. Oh no, there is a large gate at the driveway. So I can’t go through here either. Shit, now I really have to go all the way back!
My mood is almost unbearable. I have to go back over the Wipperskade again. That’s the third time already 😤 😡 %$!@^&##!!! I walk back twice as fast. Past the lonely tree again, past the corn field again, past the campsite again, past the chickens again. I don’t even look at the chickens anymore. When I arrive at the bench where I took my break earlier, I have cooled down again.
I now turn right through the residential area on the edge of Maasland. I turn right again and go through a green zone. The way back is not so bad after all. Eventually I end up at the busy junction again and turn right. Fortunately, I can enter Maassluis again via another road. Near the highway, I can turn right to end up at my destination. I then pass the pet shelter with the closed gate. I don’t really feel like it any more, so I may as well not complete the whole route! In the meantime, my plans are changed. I go straight on and walk into Maassluis. I pass some nice canals and houses with pretty facades. I did not take any more photos, by the way.
A little later, I am back at the Markt and can complete my new plan: coffee and pie 😊! A nice ending to the hike after all.
Final thoughts
Well, what can I say about this hike? After such a disappointment, it is difficult to be objective. Still, I give the hike a three star rating. Maassluis and Maasland are definitely worthwhile to walk through. And I don’t think I missed much of the Steendijkpolder.
Where: from Rozenburg to Maassluis, Zuid-Holland in the Netherlands.
No. of km: +/- 13 km
Hiking date: 17 August 2020
Materials used in illustrations: Inktense pencils, coloured pencils, watercolour paints and graphite pencil
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
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