Abcoude Travel Guide

 tompt Says:  In 1626 the governments of Utrecht and Amsterdam decided to make a towpath between Breukelen and Ouderkerk. A sand towpath is used to tow the boats along the water, this was done either manual or with horses. The sandpath today is a small asfalt road, the Voordijk. Nice to... 

 tompt Says:  In a circle about 15 km around Amsterdam a defence line was built between 1880 and 1920. When the enemy was coming too close it was the intention to flood the lands outside this line and keep them at a distance of our capital Amsterdam. The line was made by forts, which were... 

 tompt Says:  The street from the station to the centre of Abcoude is called Stationsweg. Coming from the station the first houses on the right look very distinguised. They were build at the end of the 19th century, and all look the same except for some minor details. They are privately... 

 tompt Says:  At the other end of the street you come across a railroad. This track is one of the oldest of the netherlands. In 1843 the first train passed here between Utrecht and Amsterdam. Today you can still travel regular by train to these two cities.The old stationbuilding is no... 

 tompt Says:  The street where you find these two churches is also interestering because of its houses. They vary a lot in age. The houses on numbers 16 and 18 have certificates of ownership dating back to 1665. Number 18 was had a mill to mill buckwheat to groats for a long time, and... 

 tompt Says:  In the same street, Kerkstraat (churchstreet), there is the other big church. It is the Roman Catholic one.At first there was a hiding church behind number 21, from the time the roman catholic churches were banned from the protestant netherlands. But it became to small and... 

 tompt Says:  The oldest building in Abcoude is the Dorpskerk. It originally was a roman catholic church dating back to 1491. Today it is home to the protestant church. But the pseudo-basilica form remembers of the catholic days. 

 tompt Says:  There are several possibilities to have a nice walk around Abcoude. There is a tour sponsored by the municipality. The route and info on what you see (in dutch) can be found on their website. But you can also walk along the different small rivers and enjoy the nature around... 

 tompt Says:  A dominant building is the townhall, this is where you are able to discuss matters and receive information concerning the municipality. But it also houses the police department.The building of this town-and polderhouse in 1882-1883 costed ƒ 12.000,- (about 5500 Euro). In... 

 tompt Says:  Since 1843 a train connects Utrecht with Amsterdam. This train passes Abcoude. Two times per hour you can take the train here to both Amsterdam or Utrecht. See the website of the dutch railways (NS) for detailed travel information. 

 tompt Says:  Behind Binnenrust there is a huge garden. Filled with trees and bordering the river Angstel. To relax in the garden there had to be a teahouse. This hexagonal building was used to drink tea in the garden but not to be hurt by the sun. Ofcourse the weak skins of the rich... 

 tompt Says:  Once Abcoude was populair as a home to the rich, away from the city. These so called 'out houses' had all the rich could wish for, but especially the garden was a must. Because in the city the ground was too expensive to have a large garden.In the Hoogstraat there is a nice... 

 tompt Says:  In Abcoude you will find many bridges. This is necessary because several waters cross the village. Most bridges are drawbridges and most of them are painted green.In the picture is the Hulksbrug. On a map of 1636 there was a bridge over the Angstel on this place. The house...