The second completed long-distance hiking trail is now a reality: the Southern Waterline trail in the Netherlands! I started this trail in Bergen op Zoom in January 2022 and completed the final part in Grave on 30 December 2024. So it took me almost three years to complete it. This blog is a recap of this remarkable hiking trail.
The time has come: the last hike on the Southern Waterline trail! At least, nothing is what it seems this time. This stretch goes from Reek to Grave (in the Netherlands), and I actually expect the hike to be quite long and boring. It is certainly long (21 km is long for me), but it is by no means boring. There is something for everyone: expansive views over the polder and the Maas river, but you also pass through the woods and heathlands of the Rustven nature reserve and the Reekse Heide en Bossen. And you can soak up some culture in the charming fortified town of Grave.
It’s time for the next-to-last part of the Southern Waterline trail in the Netherlands. It’s easier for me to get to Reek by public transport than to Megen. That’s why I’m doing this part of the trail in the opposite direction. It’s a long stretch of about 20 km. In the previous part, my final destination was also in Megen. I hope to see a bit more of this fortified town this time.
Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands is one of my favourite hiking areas. Once I started with the Southern Waterline trail, I already found out that the city and its surroundings are very beautiful and versatile. I also often came across the yellow-red markings of a regional trail. I wanted to start a regional trail for some time and the Brabantse Wal trail turned out to be an excellent first introduction. In any case, it tastes like more.
In this blog, I have combined two sections of the Southern waterline trail. n part 1, I hike from Maren-Kessel to Lithoijen in the Netherlands. In part 2, I start in Oss and hike to Teeffelen (neighbouring Lithoijen) via a self-made trail. From this town, I pick up the Southern waterline trail towards Megen.
On a hot summer day, I travel to Den Bosch (also called ‘s-Hertogenbosch in Dutch) to continue on the Southern waterline trail. First I go back on the path for a bit to admire Fort Crèvecoeur, then I continue my walk along the Maas river until the town of Maren-Kessel.
Today, I am hiking a little further along the Southern Waterline trail, this time from Heusden/ Fort Hedikhuizen to the city of Den Bosch (or ‘s-Hertogenbosch) in the Netherlands. It will be a lovely spring hike.
A great round trip around and through fortified town of Heusden in the Netherlands, with as many as three beautiful windmills and picturesque streets. I then walk back to the Zeedijk from the previous hike via Oudheusden. This part follows the Southern waterline trail through the village of Doeveren and along the Bergsche Maas river back to Heusden.
This time again two sections of the Southern waterline trail in one blog, due to two early discontinued hikes. During the first part from Waspik to Waalwijk, it became a water ballet. During the second part from Waalwijk to Oudheusden, I got a headache on the way and unfortunately did not have asprin with me. Who knows, maybe I will return for a second chance.
In this blog, I describe two sections of the Southern waterline trail in one. In September 2022, I hiked the 1st part from Oosterhout to Geertruidenberg. A few weeks later, I hiked the 2nd part from Geertruidenberg to Waspik.
