Wooden shoes trails are fun and always a surprise! In this blog, just a brief description of the trail (a trail shortcut 😉), a few photos and a simple sketch to illustrate. No need for a hiking map, the info on the website is clear enough.
This time, a report about the Alem trail.
My experience
In a previous blog, I mentioned that the Wooden shoes trail called Zandslagen trail was somewhat disappointing. At the time, I skipped an extra loop to Fort Saint Andries, which in hindsight was a mistake. The fort turned out to be a fantastic experience and makes the Zandslagen trail a lot more enjoyable.
Now I am back for the nearby Alem trail, but first I go to the official starting point of the Zandslagen trail, where a trail extension to Fort Saint Andries begins.
The fort is in ruins and is located on a peninsula that bears the same name, Saint Andries. You can take a walk around the fort grounds. Here, the large rivers Maas and Waal almost meet. If you take a look from the watchtower, you can see both rivers.
After this visit, I return to the starting point and then follow the Maasdijk in Rossum for a short distance along the Zandslagen trail. At the roundabout near Alem, you can switch to the Alem trail. This is about 1.5 kilometres to the starting point.
Trail guide about wooden shoes trails
The Alem trail, approximately 7 kilometres long, begins at the church square. It is not a very long trail, but I can already tell you that it is not disappointing at all. I am therefore very happy to have returned. With a trail extension, you can even make it 8 kilometres long!
From the starting point, I immediately walk onto an unpaved path. It goes along the edge of a woodland area, with beautiful views over the Marensche Waarden. Unfortunately, there are nettles up to my armpits next to the path. A little later, I am on the Veerdijk and soon I leave the dike again for the trail extension through the Marensche Waarden. I have to climb over a few fences and a herd of cows looks at me as they ruminate. Luckily, they stay at a distance.
After this extra loop, I continue along the dike with a view over the Maas river. On the other side lies Maren-Kessel, where I have been before with the Southern Waterline trail. Before I reach the town of Alem again, I pass through the Alemsche and Drielsche floodplains. The trail ends back at the church square. From here, I walk back to the roundabout where several bus lines stop.
The photos
Final thoughts
The Alem trail itself is a short but diverse trail across the Alem peninsula. I enjoyed the unpaved paths through the floodplains the most.
But the highlight of this hike is outside the trail, near the town of Rossum: Fort Saint Andries. Because the wooden shoes trail is not very long, you can easily add this landmark to your hike.
Tip: There is a transfer trail to the Zandslagen trail (9 km) and Long distance trail Maarten van Rossum trail also passes through the same area.
More info:
Trail: Wooden shoes trail Alem trailWhere: Alem, Gelderland, the Netherlands.
No. of km: 7 km (15 km with Fort Saint Andries)
Hiking date: 28 June 2024
Materials used in illustration: little sketch with graphite pencil
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
- To Alem: bus stop Kerk, Alem – neighbourhood bus 267 between Zaltbommel and Hedel or bus stop Rotonde, Alem – bus 165 between ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Druten (with a connecting trail of 1,5 km)
- To Rossum (Fort Saint Andries): bus stop De Vaste Burcht, Rossum – bus 165 between Den Bosch station and Druten or neighbourhood bus 267 between Zaltbommel and Hedel. It is then about a 10-minute walk to the starting point, where you can go to Fort Saint Andries.
More hikes with an extra loop
Some hikes have landmarks that are off trail. Below are a few more trails that are worth the extra detour.
Extra loop Crezéepolder:
Extra loop Blauwe Sluis:
Extra loop Dintelse Gorzen:
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