Cycling in Raamsdonk

Escape via a book chest

Hugo de Groot bicycle route stage 2

It has been over 400 years since Hugo de Groot escaped from Slot Loevestein via a book chest. On March 22, 1621, his wife Maria and maid Elsje helped him escape after being imprisoned for almost 2 years.


DISTANCE 25,2 KM - 1,3 hours Download GPX

Hugo de Groot, accompanied by his maid Elsje van Houweningen, was smuggled in the book chest to Gorinchem. Hugo walked around 12:00 dressed as a bricklayer from Gorinchem through the Land of Altena in the direction of Waalwijk. On the cart of a Waalwijk drayman he fled from there (probably) via Loon op Zand, Tilburg, Riel, Alphen, Baarle, Hoogstraten, Sint-Lenaarts, Sint-Job-In-'t-Goor and Merksem to Antwerp.

With this route you cycle the second stage of the Hugo de Groot route, from Gorinchem to Waalwijk. Look here for the third stage, from Waalwijk to Tilburg.

1
Starting point

Buiten De Waterpoort 1, 4201 CS Gorinchem, The Netherlands

Follow the junctions

31 40 56 07 08 10
2
St. John the Baptist Church
Church of St. John the Baptist

Sint Jansplein 2
5141 GR Waalwijk

3
Slijterij De Langstraat
Slijterij De Langstraat

Grotestraat 222
5141 HE Waalwijk

4
Stadsbrouwerij St. Crispijn
Stadsbrouwerij St. Crispijn

Winterdijk 10
5141 KE Waalwijk

5
PartyVlaai Waalwijk
PartyVlaai Waalwijk

Grotestraat 219
5141 JS Waalwijk

6
Het Huis van Waalwijk
Het Huis van Waalwijk

Raadhuisplein 2
5141 KG Waalwijk

8
Theater De Leest
Theater De Leest

Peace Square 12
5142 RA Waalwijk

9
Cafe De Galgenwiel (info point)
Eatery De Galgenwiel (info point)

Mayor Smeelelaan 124
5144 NK Waalwijk

10
Endpoint

Grotestraat 246, 5141 HE Waalwijk, The Netherlands