Along culture and nature

Starting point: Stationsstraat/De Oude Melkhaven, Raamsdonk (junction 64).

• Walk along the St. Bavo Church and Kerkplein in the direction of node 39.

The St. Bavo Church is the Catholic parish church of Raamsdonk from 1888. A cross basilica in neo-Romanogothic style, designed by Carl Weber. Characteristic is the high dome that looks somewhat disproportionate. This is because the two west towers, originally planned, were never completed due to lack of money. Illuminated dials were installed on the dome in 1969 and the church was restored in 2010 - 2011.

On the lawn in front of the church a number of large boulders representing the artwork "Rotssteun" by Jo Gijsen. This sculpture symbolizes the solidity and connectedness of the community. The distinct identity of two village centers, Raamsdonk and Raamsdonksveer, has been emphasized by splitting the stone in two and then gluing it together. At the edge of the lawn two smaller stones with inscriptions refer to the large sculpture. Near the artwork are two royal trees: the Beatrix Tree (1988) and the Maxima Tree (2002). At the other edge of the lawn the Willem Alexander tree (2013) and three silver lime trees planted on the occasion of 900 years of the Duchy of Brabant in 2007.

• Walk along Bergenstraat and Lange Broekstraat to node 39.

At the address Lange Broekstraat 1 you will find Landgoed Het Broeck with Rijtuigmuseum de Koetserij, a coffee and tea shop, sculpture garden and walking and ornamental gardens.

Tip: at the junction with the Engelse Wal, take a walk down the Korte Broekstraat which includes an original restored sheep barn and a number of monumental farms of the so-called Langstraat type.

• From node 39 you walk to node 38. Along the Zandput pond area, continue via node 43 and 42 to node 49.

Tip: go between node 42/49 into the lake area and discover the artwork Millenniumbos by Sjaak Pruijsers. The two with three zeros indicates the turn of the century. The whole is made of a rusting steel to indicate impermanence. The number two is made of stainless steel because the future must be beautiful and shiny.

• Turn right and then left to walk at node 52, under the viaduct, to nodes 51, 53 and 54. You walk through nature and along the river Donge back to the starting point: node 64.

End of the route.