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.
Today I start yet another section of the Zuiderwaterliniepad. Last time, I had saved the round trip over the Spinolaschans for this time. This entrenchment is well hidden along the N285 road between Breda-Noord and Terheijden. After the Spinolaschans, I walk along the north side of Breda and Teteringen. I then continue my way through the Oosterhout forest and across the Vrachelse Heide until I eventually reach the centre of Oosterhout.
This section of the Southern Waterline trail between Terheijden and the Spinolaschans near Breda in the Netherlands initially seemed to me a somewhat boring trail, but that is not the case. Instead, the trail is very varied, going through meadows, forests and along defence line structures. A big improvement from the previous hike on this trail.
So far, this is the least enjoyable part of the Southern Waterline trail: from Prinsenbeek to Terheijden. The trail itself is a bit boring, but all sorts of things did happen while hiking, including an encounter with a bird and a nice meeting with two doggies. The highlight of the trail, the Kleine Schans in Terheijden, comes at the end, so it makes this blog worth reading 😉
The Southern Waterline trails takes me from Zevenbergen past many farm fields and the small Mark river, and through nature reserves Haagse Beemden and Strijpen to Prinsenbeek.
In this part of the Southern Waterline trail, I first walk in Klundert towards the Groenstrook (Green Strip) to walk the bit I skipped last time. Then I go a full round through the lovely fortified town via the normal trail. After Klundert, I continue across the Moerdijk industrial area and along the Zevenbergseweg to my hometown of Zevenbergen.
This time on the Southern Waterline trail, I take extensive time to see the beautiful fortified town of Willemstad. After Willemstad, I walk to the next fortified town: Klundert.
Today I start again in Dinteloord, but this time I walk in the other direction, towards Willemstad. I pass two forts of the Southern Waterline: Fort de Hel (the Hell) and Fort Sabina. I end my hike in fortified town Willemstad. No, not on the island of Curaçao, but in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands.
