Nature reserve 't Weegje

't Weegje, also known as Wijhe, is a nature and recreation area located in the southernmost part of the Dutch municipality of Waddinxveen between the A12 highway, the railway line from Gouda to The Hague, and the Gouwe.

The recreation area 't Weegje is named after the path that runs between the pond and the railway line. The path used to be part of the old Moortsche Veenwech and formed an important connection between Gouda and Rotterdam. In the middle of the recreation area, there is a peat extraction pond. This pond, approximately 60 hectares, was created after peat extraction in 1825. The peat obtained was used as fuel for breweries, pottery, and heating homes. Adjacent to 't Weegje is the Koningin Wilhelminakade, the former Zuidkade. After the inauguration of Queen Wilhelmina in 1898, it was given its current name. Where the railway tunnel is now, there used to be a wipmolen (treadmill) that was demolished during the construction of a railway line in 1903. Originally, this area consisted of meadows and farms; nowadays, besides 't Weegje and a restaurant, mainly residential houses can be found here.

Wikipedia