Historic Farmhouses

Wijk bij Duurstede lies at the point where the Kromme Rijn, the Crooked Rhine, flows into the Lek, in the fertile river landscape of the province of Utrecht, and the countryside around the town contains a good number of historic farmhouses. They are not ticketed attractions with fixed opening hours, so the experience is more about a type of landscape than about a single building. The pleasure lies in seeing them from the road or the dike while cycling or walking, and in understanding how the people of the region lived and worked.

The region owes its richness to the Rhine. Over thousands of years, the river deposited layers of clay along its banks, creating some of the most fertile soil in the country. Farmers settled on the natural levees beside the river, where the ground was higher and drier, and the low-lying land behind was used for pasture. The farms were arranged along the dikes and roads that followed the river, which gave the settlements a long, linear form. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, many of the farms specialised in fruit, and orchards of apples, pears and cherries cover much of the area.

The farmhouses themselves reflect these traditions. Many are long brick buildings with a steep roof of red tiles, sometimes with a barn attached to the house under the same roof, and a farmyard with a pond and old trees. Some date from the seventeenth century, though most have been modified over time. A few are still working farms that sell fruit, eggs or cheese in a farm shop, and others have been converted into homes, restaurants or bed and breakfasts. The older ones may have details such as decorated gables, shutters in bright colours or a date stone above the door.

The best way to see them is by bicycle. The dike roads along the Lek and the Kromme Rijn offer long views of the landscape, and there are signposted routes that pass farms, castles and villages. In spring, the fruit blossom adds colour, and in autumn the fruit is harvested, so there are stalls and markets. The Lek River Promenade and the village centre of Wijk bij Duurstede provide places to rest.

The landscape suits cyclists, walkers and photographers. Respect private property, as most farms are working businesses and not open to the public. Check the opening times of farm shops and cafes, which vary with the season.