Goudriaan offers nature experiences and a local history spanning different periods. At the swimming lake, you can swim and play in the water; in the polder forest, enjoy walks and plant diversity. Other highlights include late Gothic church architecture, the village’s historic settlement pattern and traces of early settlement. These themes give you a concrete basis for choosing the focus of your stay.
Water and the Polder Forest
The swimming lake at the entrance to the Slingelandse Plassen recreation area is used for swimming and playing in the water in warm spring and summer weather. Seasonal water conditions can vary, so check the operator’s latest information before your visit.
You can walk in the polder forest and enjoy the peace and quiet. It is a meeting place for people who appreciate outdoor living. You can also experience a wide variety of edible food crops, trees and shrubs there. The edible forest is still being established, and this development is part of the character of the polder forest.
Access to the polder forest is via a partly paved footpath. The area is also easily accessible for people with reduced mobility. This gives you a clear distinction when choosing a nature experience: swimming and playing in the water are the focus at the swimming lake, while the polder forest offers walks, peace and quiet, and edible plants.
Village Church and Architectural History
The Hervormde Kerk at Noordzijde 17 is a late Gothic village church. It has a single-nave nave and a deep, three-sided apse. “Single-nave” describes a nave with one main aisle; the choir refers to the adjoining area at the end of the church building. A substantial brick tower stands on the west side and is decorated with rows of narrow blind niches. An octagonal, tapering spire crowns it.
The church’s furnishings include a pulpit dating from 1642. This dated furnishing adds a specific detail about the interior to the late Gothic architectural form.
The settlement pattern also shapes Goudriaan’s history. In the 13th century, the village developed as a long, linear settlement along the peat stream Goudriaan. The term “linear settlement” draws attention to the settlement’s form and complements the history of individual buildings with the village’s historic layout.
Another chapter in the architectural and local history is the former courthouse at Noordzijde 12–14. It was originally built as a farmhouse in 1639.
Traces of Early Settlement
In the Polder Oud-Goudriaan area at Goudriaanse Kade, traces of settlement date back to the Late Stone Age and the Vlaardingen culture. This offers a different perspective from the church and former courthouse: here, the focus is on traces of early settlement in a named area, whereas the other details concern individual buildings and their history.
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Go to the overview of destinations: Graafstroom.
