Art galleries (including one featuring works of Anjo de Jong)

Buren is a very small, old fortified town in the Betuwe, the fruit-growing region of Gelderland between the rivers Rhine and Waal. It has the layout of a medieval stronghold, with streets within a ring of old ramparts, a pretty network of lanes and a feeling of having been left alone by the modern world. It is linked closely to the history of the House of Orange. The title Count of Buren belonged to the family that married into the line, and the early princes of Orange also carried the name, so the little town has a place in the story of the Dutch royal family out of all proportion to its size.

Small towns like this often attract artists, craftspeople and galleries, drawn by the quiet, the historic buildings and the light. Buren has a handful of galleries and studios in the old houses along its streets, showing painting, ceramics, sculpture and other work by regional artists. Information about which galleries are open and what they show changes often, and many keep limited hours, so it is wise to check locally or look for signs in the windows. A gallery in a seventeenth-century house gives the pleasure of seeing the art in a setting of old beams, wooden floors and small windows.

The town itself is the main attraction. A walk along the ramparts and through the lanes takes less than an hour, passing historic houses with tiled roofs, small gardens and the old church. The Orange museum tells the story of the connection with the royal family, and a historic windmill built in the early eighteenth century and restored in the 1970s stands on the edge of the town and is a favourite subject for photographers. Cafes and small restaurants provide for refreshment, and the surrounding countryside is full of orchards, which are covered in blossom in spring and offer fruit in autumn.

The Betuwe is a good area for cycling, with flat routes along the dykes and through the fruit-growing villages. Culemborg and Tiel, both historic towns, are a short ride from Buren, and the river Linge is close.

The galleries suit art lovers, cyclists and anyone interested in the small towns of the Betuwe. Plan a visit for the afternoon, and go in spring for the blossom. Check gallery opening hours, as many are open only on certain days, and combine the visit with a walk on the walls.