Wooden shoes trail: Merckenburg trail

Wooden shoes trails are fun and always a surprise! This blog post contains a (not so brief) description of the trail (a trail extender 😉), a lot of 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 Merckenburg trail.

My experience

A brand-new wooden shoes trail near Asperen and Heukelum in the Netherlands opened (last year). And what a trail it is! It’s the best wooden shoes trail I’ve hiked so far!

I was already absolutely thrilled about the nearby Rhenoijsche trail; see my previous blog post about it. I hadn’t expected things to get any better in this region. Oh boy, what was I wrong!

The West Betuwe, the river region around the Linge, is truly my favourite hiking region in the Netherlands. This is reflected in the two 5-star (wonderful hikes) and two 4-star hikes (super hikes) that I have completed there previously. I have also hiked in the Heerlijkheid Mariënwaerdt estate on several occasions. It is particularly beautiful there in the spring.

Just across the bridge over the Linge river near Leerdam, I join the trail. Leerdam station is only a kilometre or so away. On this wooden shoes trail, I also pass through an estate known as Heukelum, with a castle of the same name. The castle and the estate are also called Merckenburg, which is where the trail gets its name from. To make matters even more complicated: the neighbouring town is also called Heukelum. Not to be confused with the hamlets of Heukelom in North Brabant or Limburg provinces, or the Hoekelum estate in the Veluwe region. My head is spinning with all these names 😵‍💫.

There’s a new surprise around every bend on this trail. I pass through the picturesque town of Heukelum, still following the Linge river. Geese and their goslings are swimming in the river. At a roadside stall, I pick up a jar of delicious orange jam.

After Heukelum, I pass through a recreational area and then through a small stretch of woodland along the Linge river. There are some lovely little bridges, steps and narrow paths here. I am amazed by what I see.

Then I come across another roadside stall; this time it’s selling egg boxes. But they contain something other than eggs. It turns out they’re seed bombs, made from flowers that grow in this area. I’ve picked up a box. A jar of jam and the seed bombs make for a nice little bonus 🐝.

The next section of the trail takes me through the Linge-oevers nature reserve. What a beautiful nature reserve! It starts with lovely flower-filled grasslands, with the Linge river always nearby. Then comes the most beautiful part: a marshy forest with a boardwalk. A tree that has been almost gnawed through reveals that beavers live here. I can’t tell whether I’m looking at a beaver den or just a pile of fallen branches.

Then I arrive at a pull platform. Unfortunately, it’s on the other side of the water. It’s a real struggle to pull the platform towards me. Just as I’m almost there, I see a woman on the other side. I think to myself: she’ll surely help me. But she just stands there watching me struggle. Once on the platform, it’s a lot easier, but I still get no help. When I reach the other side, I wish her good luck and walk straight on. She can pull it off on her own. I’ve ended up with a blister from all that pulling.

Trail guide about wooden shoe trails

Three white ladies are waiting for me on either side of the path. I walk calmly between the cows. As I leave the nature reserve through the fence, I see that they have followed me.

At this point, where I leave the Linge behind me, there is a transfer trail to the Vurensche Polder trail. I have written a blog post about this path before.

I pass through even more nature reserves. Hikers who have done the Waterline trail (Long distance trail 17) will recognise this part. From here, this trail goes roughly parallel to the Merckenburg trail. The Tiendweg and the Zuiderlingedijk connect the nature reserves.

I walk along many unpaved paths. First on the dike, then to the left of the dike, then to the right of the dike again. Then to the left once more, taking a loop through a beautiful nature reserve. Next, I turn right again, taking a wide loop around a lake. There are lots of sheep on the path here. They don’t move out of the way, so I just walk around them in a wide arc.

Nearby Asperen, there are more and more other hikers. Most of them are coming from the opposite direction. Luckily, I set off early myself. I wouldn’t want to have all these oncoming hikers on the narrow boardwalk. But then they could have helped out with the platform.

Just before Asperen, the trail crosses the Rhenoijsche trail, my former favourite wooden shoes trail. In Asperen, the trail takes me through a picturesque little street. Unfortunately, there are roadworks. By the time this blog is published, they will no doubt have finished.

I then come to a stretch I’ve seen before on the Great Rivers trail. Now, walking in the opposite direction, it looks quite different. At the bridge over the Linge, I’ve completed the whole trail and walk back to Leerdam station.

The photos

Final thoughts

Stroll along the long Linge river

The region around the Linge river is truly beautiful! Below are some more trails to stroll along the long Linge river.

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