Distance: 14 km
This historical walk along the "Trekvaart" starts and ends at the Tourist Transfer Point (TOP) in Lisse, Stationsweg 59 Lisse and also passes through the centre of Hillegom.
This walk takes you along the Trekvaart, also called Leidsevaart or Haarlemmertrekvaart, between Lisse and Hillegom. Via the centre of Hillegom you will walk past bulb fields, Keukenhof castle and Lisse railway station back to your starting point.
The canal runs from Haarlem to Leiden along Heemstede, Bennebroek, Vogelenzang, Hillegom, Lisse, Voorhout, Warmond and Oegstgeest. For more than 200 years, the tugboat was the main means of public transport in the low-lying areas of the Netherlands, especially South Holland. Every day, a fixed timetable carried thousands of passengers by barge between the Dutch cities. To strengthen their economy and improve accessibility, cities such as Leiden, The Hague, Delft, Gouda, Rotterdam, Schiedam, Amsterdam and others invested heavily in the construction of canals and the creation of the necessary infrastructure.
They built reinforced towpaths, small bridges, tollgates and guardhouses. For a long time, a journey by barge was a must for foreign travellers; nowhere else was public transport so well organised. On this route, you walk past two information boards where you can read about the history of the waterways in the city. They built reinforced towpaths, small bridges, tollgates and guardhouses. For a long time, a journey by barge was a must for foreign travellers; nowhere else was public transport so well organised.
On this route, you walk past two information boards where you can read about the history of the canal or you can learn about the canal through an interactive moment. The signs focus on the canal, facts, trivia and stories, as well as other cultural and historical attractions along the canal near the location, such as Lisse Station.
Tip: In total there are 7 information boards along the route Haarlem - Leiden, nice to know if you want to plan a more extended walk.
