Rolpaal and Jaagpad Woerden

Here we see a historic towpath along the Old Rhine.

A towpath or haulage path (also haul road) is a path along a canal or river that was used to pull ships forward. This pulling was called towing and occurred during unfavorable wind and against the current. Typically, towing was done by a horse with an attendant (the towman), but sometimes it was also done by manpower. Large cargo ships were towed by multiple horses.

This is the first long-distance towpath in Holland. It was established in 1664 during the three-city consultation of Leiden-Woerden-Utrecht, and about a hundred bridges and small footbridges were built for it. The construction with more than 100 bridges was quite an expensive affair at the time. The costs were offset by levying toll charges. As indicated by the text on a leg penny issued at the time, there was quite a bit of resistance against the towpath: ‘The towpath long awaited, Regretful misfortune, now accomplished, Regret foolish strength, Adorns the Rhine three cities’. Following this example, more towpaths and punt connections were created.

At this location, the Old Rhine makes a wide bend. At the corner stands a roll post to guide the rope. The barge still had to sail a bit straight ahead, while the towpath (and the rope with the towman) had already gone around the bend.

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