'''Woerden''' [http://www.woerden.nl/] is a city and municipality in the Dutch province Utrecht. Woerden is located in the east of the Green Heart (''Groene Hart'') of the Netherlands, the green zone surrounded by the Randstad. Outside built up areas, Woerden is mostly meadows and farmland. Woerden is located on the banks of the Old Rhine river, which used to be the main branch of the rover Rhine until the 12th century. In Roman times, this river was the north border of the empire and an army unit was stationed where Woerden is now. The municipality, which comprises other towns and villages in the neighbourhood (it's more than ten times the surface area of the city), has a population of about 50,000. The city of Woerden proper has about 34,000 inhabitants.

Understand

Around 40 AD, when the Old Rhine river (much bigger and wilder back then) was the north border of the Roman Empire, there was a castellum plus a small settlement at the current city centre's location, called Laurum or Laurium. Artifacts and even ships from that time have been found and some of it is exhibited in the parking garage appropriately called Castellum and in the city museum. Around 270 AD, German attacks made the Romans retreat from the castellum. In the middle ages, Woerden started flourishing again. A moat around the city was built, city walls and later a castle. In 1372, Woerden received city rights.

The municipality of Woerden is very green and, like the rest of this part of the Netherlands, very flat, although the name Woerden derives from ''Wyrda'', as it was called in the middle ages, a word that exists in modern Dutch as ''wierde'', an artificial hill in the landscape to be protected case of flooding. This hill is hardly visible however (the city centre is only about 2 m higher than the surrounding area). The Old Rhine river is quite small, and hardly (if at all) used for shipping, small boats do use it for leisure purposes. The river crosses the city from east to west and around the city centre, splits and comes together to form a circular moat/canal. The river used to cut across the city centre, but this middle branch was 'closed' (filled with earth and made into a street: the current ''Rijnstraat''). The city centre is the oldest part of the city and stayed the only part until the 20th century. After the Second World War, the city started expanding to the east along the river and a new neighbourhood to the northwest. In later decades, the city extended to new neighbourhoods to the east and southwest. The latest addition is a new district in the southeast; building started in the 1990s and is ongoing.

Other populated places in the municipality include Harmelen, Kamerik and Zegveld. Municipalities surrounding Woerden are De Ronde Venen, Breukelen, Utrecht, Montfoort, Reeuwijk, Bodegraven and Nieuwkoop.

Orientation in the city centre: there is a circular ring of roads in the city centre, which is one way (for cars), anti-clockwise. Starting at the castle (three o'clock on the ring), at goes through Plantsoen, Hoge Wal, Oostsingel (these three street are on top of the old city wall and aren't very interesting for pedestrians), then Meulmansweg, past the harbour and library, Kruittorenweg, past the windmill, Wilhelminaweg and finally Prins Hendrikkade. Because of the 'moat', there are only four roads out of/into the city centre: the Oostdam in the east, near the castle, that leads to the train station. The Oostsingel in the north, the Westdam in the northwest (near the harbour) and the Oranjestraat in the southeast (near the mill).

There is a tourist information centre near the mill: <listing name="VVV Woerden" address="Molenstraat 40" directions="off the Wilhelminaweg" phone="+31 348 414474" email="info@vvvwoerden.nl" url="http://www.vvvwoerden.nl/index.php?id=17&lang=17" lat="52.0845" long="4.8836"></listing>.

Get in

By train

Woerden has an "intercity" train station, direct trains run from and to The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Gouda and Leiden. Trains are run by the ''Nederlandse Spoorwegen'' [http://www.ns.nl/english] (NS, "Dutch Railways"). From the international airport Schiphol near Amsterdam, Woerden can be reached by train, by changing in either Leiden, Utrecht or Duivendrecht. The train station is located very close to the city centre.

By bus

Woerden's main bus station is located next to the train station. Regional buses run from Utrecht, Bodegraven, Nieuwkoop, Mijdrecht and Breukelen and are operated by Connexxion and BBA/Veolia.

By car

Woerden is located just to the north of the highway A12, exit 14. The A12 runs between The Hague and the German border, near Arnhem. From the north, Woerden can be reached by exiting highway A2 near Breukelen, then continuing on provincial roads N401 and N212 via Kockengen and Kamerik. From the south (Belgium), take the A27 or A2 motorways to Utrecht, then change to the A12 motorway westwards and take exit 14. Woerden's main regional roads are the N458 from Bodegraven, the N405 from Kamerik, the N212 from highway A2 and Wilnis/Mijdrecht/Vinkeveen, the N198 from Harmelen/Leidsche Rijn and the N204 from Linschoten/Montfoort.

By boat

The Old Rhine river flows through Woerden, there are small harbours in the centre of the city and in the northwest of the city on the Grecht canal, which leads to the Nieuwkoopse Plassen.

Get around

Woerden is small enough is be able to walk, especially in the city centre. When travelling between the city centre and the outlying neighbourhoods, the bus is probably convenient: local bus operators Connexxion and BBA/Veolia run buses from the train station, some via the city centre, to your neighbourhood of destination. Use a ''strippenkaart''; the whole of Woerden is located in one bus zone, so you can get everywhere within the city using two ''strippen''.

There is a taxi stand in front of the train station, although often there are no taxis there. Local taxi companies are '''Van de Pol''' (+31 348 412096) and '''Van Vulpen''' (+31 348 420000).

Just like in most parts of the Netherlands, cycling is an excellent way to get around in Woerden. Rent a bicycle at the train station for about ?7 per day. Bike theft is not as common as it is in larger cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht, but a reasonable lock is still quite necessary.

See

Woerden has its own castle, probably built in 1410 by Duke John the Pitiless of Bavaria-Straubing. It's located at the east side of the city centre, it can't be missed when coming from the train station to the city centre. The castle currently houses some restaurants, several function rooms and some companies and it's possible to cross the bridge over the moat to the small courtyard when the restaurants are open.

If you like churches, Woerden has several in its centre: the catholic Bonuventura Church at the east end of the ''Rijnstraat'', it's neogothic, built in 1892 and the tallest church in Woerden. The Dutch reformed Petrus Church on the ''Kerkplein'' ("Church Square") is gothic, built in the 13th and 14th century. Another interesting church is difficult to find: it's a Lutheran church, which was prohibited in the Netherlands (end 16th, begin 17th century), so it's a ''schuilkerk'' or house church. You can find it at the Jan de Bakkerstraat 11, recognisable by the metal swan on the roof.

The pedestrianised shopping street ''Voorstraat'' has some old buildings, just like the ''Havenstraat'' ("Harbour Street").

Do

Events

  • August - ''Woerdense Vakantie Week'': "Woerden Holiday Week", during one week at the end of the summer school holiday, activities mainly aimed at children and concerts aimed at adults take place in the city. Ends in a fireworks display.
  • September - ''Eru Taptoe Woerden'', the oldest civilian tattoo (as in drum performance) of the Netherlands
  • October - ''Woerdense Koeienmarkt'', yearly cattle market on a Wednesday during the October school holiday. Show up at 6am to see merchants sell cows by clapping each other's hands. Also a funfair is held. Traditionally, one eats ''snert'' (thick pea soup with bits of sausage in it) and ''poffertjes'' (tiny sweet pancakes, consumed with butter and icing sugar).
  • Buy

    A large part of the city centre is dedicated to shopping: two parallel streets, the ''Voorstraat'' and the ''Rijnstraat'', are shops only, as are several street leading from these. The Voorstraat is pedestrianised, and the city is trying to discourage people from driving in the Rijnstraat, although traffic jams are likely on Saturdays in this street. Crossing both streets is the ''Kruisstraat'', which leads to the ''Kerkplein'', a recently improved shopping square. Shopping for groceries can be done in the ''Albert Heijn'' supermarket in the ''Wagenstraat'' (off the east end of the ''Rijnstraat'').

    On Saturday mornings, a regional farmers market is held, and on Wednesday mornings there is a 'normal' market in the city centre, both on the ''Kerkplein''.

    Shops are closed on Sundays, although on 8 Sundays per year some shops can be open. These are mainly garden centres and furniture shops outside the city centre. Before ''Sinterklaas'' and Christmas, some shops in the city centre are open on a Sunday.

    Eat

    Chinese

  • Chinese restaurant ''De Lange Muur'', Utrechtsestraatweg 113, +31 348 412176, [http://www.delangemuur.nl/ www].
  • Chinese Indonesian restaurant ''Mei-Wah'', Tournoysveld 79-C, +31 348 417372.
  • Budget

  • Fast food:
  • *Snack bar ''Verheul'', Leidsestraatweg 13.
  • *McDonald's, Botnische Golf 1, 2 km south of the city centre.
  • Mid-Range

  • Greeks restaurant ''Dimitra'', Achterstraat 31, +31 348 433529, [http://www.dimitra.nl www]
  • ''De Smaak van Woerden'', Havenstraat 10-A, +31 348 411380, [http://www.desmaakvanwoerden.nl www]
  • Argentine restaurant ''El Ranchito'', Wilhelminaweg 20, +31 348 412113, [http://www.elranchito.nl www]
  • Pizzeria ''Bella Milano'', Havenstraat 41, 0348 482860, [http://www.pizzeriabellamilano.nl www]
  • Italian restaurant ''Roma'', Leidsestraatweg 3, 0348 419126, [http://www.restaurantroma.nl/ www] - uses organic meat
  • Splurge

  • De Markies. an der Valk Boumanlaan 61. 31 348 431399. ttp://www.restaurantdemarkies.nl/. 45. course dinner menu. 2.0805. .8969. 1 km south of the city centre.
  • De Smidse. avenstraat 12. 31 348 417777. ttp://www.restaurantdesmidse.com/. 33. course dinner menu. 2.0855. .8848.

    Drink

  • Three sidewalk cafes on the ''Kerkplein'':
  • *<drink name="Breuren" alt="B+" address="Groenendaal 28" directions="" phone="+31 348 415300" url="http://www.breuren.nl" hours="" price="" lat="52.0859" long="4.8827">Luxurious meals and drinks</drink>
  • *<drink name="Cafe De Pompier" alt="" address="Groenendaal 17" directions="" phone="+31 348 422714" url="http://www.pompier.nl/" hours="" price="" lat="52.086" long="4.8833">Has a big outdoor section</drink>
  • *<drink name="Cafe De Marketier" alt="" address="Hogewoerd 2A" directions="" phone="+31 348 432096" url="http://www.cafedemarketier.nl/" hours="" price="" lat="52.0861" long="4.8824">A cosy oldfashioned 'brown' pub</drink>
  • Pub '''Cafe Victoria''' (traditionally called "Arie"), a pub where the local youth comes together in the weekend, very close to the train station.
  • Pub '''Cafe Kweetnie''' football (soccer) fans can celebrate or commiserate at Wil and Yvon's.
  • Pub '''De Reehorst'''
  • Pub '''Drinkerij 'het Bierhuys' '''
  • Sleep

  • Camping Batenstein. an Helvoortlaan 36. 31 348 421320. ttp://www.camping-batenstein.nl. ampingbatenstein@planet.nl. 2:00. losed from November to the end of March.. in. ?17.25. 2.0928. .8857. Camping, with spaces for tents and caravans. It's also possible to rent a caravan or a "hut" with beds and a small kitchen. Located next to the swimming pool and also next to the "Bredius park".
  • Best Western Hotel. trechtsestraatweg 25. 31 348 412515. ttp://www.bestwesternwoerden.nl/. 87-103 for a standard double room, incl. breakfast. 2.0877. .8932. The only hotel in Woerden, 62 rooms. Situated on the bank of the Old Rhine river, less than 500 m from the city centre and 350 m from the train station.
  • Bed & Breakfast Woerden. aulus Buyslaan 13. 31 348 413770. ttp://www.b-bwoerden.nl/. nfo@b-bwoerden.nl. 2.0879. .8957. Price unknown. Run by Louise van Beijnum, who had a B&B in Ireland before.

    Get out