Shorter round Biesbosch and (western) Land of Altena

The route starts in Dussen at the parking lot of Kasteel Dussen, and goes clockwise. You first follow the river Dussen and then you go via the hamlet of Peerenboom to Hank and dive into the Biesbosch. That means first cycling path on the dike along the important waterway, called the Steurgat. You can also choose to ignore the non-mandatory cycle path and cycle along the dike. However, then you cycle inside the dike and you have no view of the Biesbosch. The route leaves the cycle path and goes to the Bakkerskil (another important water channel in the Biesbosch) and later ends up on the cycle path along the Steurgat. You will eventually arrive in Werkendam where the route will also end up on your return. So that means that after crossing the Biesbosch lock you have to quickly turn left again via the other side of the Steurgat. Now you cycle on good roads (no cycle path) some of which are closed to car traffic (with the exception of local traffic, or completely closed to car traffic) through beautiful nature and flood plains and swamps, partly through the Noordwaard. The Noordwaard was once an agricultural area, now partly flooded with grazing Scottish Highlanders, Konik horses and water buffalo.

At the Biesbosch museum island you come on a cycle path along the main road. Then you go on quiet roads again through the Noordwaardpolder, now along the creek Boomgat and over the Kroonbrug (an old drawbridge). Then you cycle on car-free roads along the Merwede. You arrive in Werkendam again and then you go over winding dike roads along the Merwede and then through the old fortified town of Woudrichem. Then you go over dike roads along the Afgedamde Maas. In Giessen you go straight through the polder and cycle past former Fort Giessen, nature reserve Andels Broek, and castle Meeuwen. Finally, you come to the Bergse Maas, which you follow on the asphalted cycle path on top of the dike (you have to brave 75 meters of cobblestones to get on the bike path). On part of this bike path, cattle can graze freely, so you can cycle right past cows (and have to be aware of cowflies on the path!). And then at Dussen you leave the dike to cycle back to Dussen Castle.

Please note: because you cycle through the Noordwaard, which is a flood zone, it is possible that during prolonged rainy periods the Noordwaard will be blank. This also applies to the roads in this area.
The route goes about 17 kilometers on cycle paths.