This full-day route goes largely through the province of Zeeland, so the Delta Works will certainly not be skipped. The Delta Works are a defense system, in the Netherlands, to protect against high water from the sea, particularly in the provinces of Zeeland, southern South Holland and North Brabant. The Delta Works have been built for decades. These flood defenses consist of 5 storm surge barriers, 2 locks and 6 dams.

After departure from Harmelen, you drive to Oudewater along the Hollandsche IJssel and then make the 1st of 3 water crossings with a ferry at Schoonhoven. First you cross the Lek, then at Herwijnen de Waal and finally the Nieuwe Merwede in the Biesbosch, the National Park De Biesbosch is a very water-rich nature and recreation area. Characteristic are the freshwater tides, creeks and willow tidal forests. It consists of a number of river islands and sand and mud flats. Soon after, the 1st of a number of delta works in this route passes, namely "De Volkerakdam", this is the fifth project of the Delta Works and was completed in 1969. Together with the Hellegatsdam and the Haringvlietbrug, the work forms a three-pointed star, which forms a land connection between Goeree-Overflakkee, the Hoeksche Waard and the mainland of North Brabant. Rijkswaterstaat built the Delta Works in response to the flood disaster of 1953. A daring construction program at the time. For example, shortening the coastline by closing off a number of sea arms (foothills of the sea in the country, such as the Oosterschelde) with fixed dams and movable storm surge barriers had never been done before. The construction of such large and complex barriers was also unique. Due to the dams, the coastline, the direct border between sea and land, was considerably shortened. Instead of a 700 km of rugged coastline, a more or less straight coastline of only 80 km was created. This meant that far fewer flood defenses were needed to prevent flooding from the sea.

In total there are 11 Delta works in this route, as well as the Flood Museum. Definitely take a tour here to get an idea of the disaster and the Delta Works. The Watersnoodmuseum is located in the four caissons that were used to close the last dike hole, created during the 1953 flood. The museum is located in the seawall south of the Zeeland village of Ouwerkerk. The museum can be kept open through the efforts of volunteers.
After passing the last delta work in this route, the Baths flushing canal, this lock was not constructed as a defense against the water, but was constructed together with the Baths flushing canal to drain fresh water with which the Volkerak, the Zoommeer, the Markiezaatsmeer and the Scheldt-Rhine Canal are flushed (due to the damming of these waters, this was no longer automatic), you enter Noord-Brabant, where the end point of this route is in Ossendrecht.

Book a room in the Grenshotel- Restaurant de Jonckheer or at one of the campsites or B&B in the immediate vicinity.