theatrelover

If I read the waterbus website correctly, the direct waterbus from Rotterdam Erasmusburg to Kinderdijk does not start until May 1. We will be visiting in April. I think the website is telling me that, in April, I need to take the waterbus from Dordrecht and change in Ridderkerk. Is that the easiest and fastest method to get to Kinderdijk in April? We will be staying in Delft.

Thanks for any help

theatrelover

I found the recommendation to use 9292.nl (that is excellent) and they suggest the train from Delft to Dordrecht and then the bus right to Kinderdijk. That sounds very simple. Thank you to all who posted that trip planning site.

menachem

Changing at Ridderkerk is very easy. When the Waterbus docks, the (far more down to earth ferry) to Kinderdijk is waiting for you already. They'll wait for everyone off the Waterbus to get on before they leave. Make sure you've got cash for the Driehoek ferry. Going back from Kinderdijk it's the same thing: shortly after you get off the Kinderdijk ferry, the Waterbus will dock.

There is no bus right to the Kinderdijk mills. I live in Rotterdam and get to Kinderdijk fairly often. Either I bike there, or I take the Waterbus. It really is the easiest way. Going up river gives you a view of the Dutch river landscape that the bus from Dordrecht can never do.

PS, 9292.nl will always favour trains and buses over river ferries

theatrelover

Thank you so much menachem. You are so generous with your time and knowledge. I will change my notes to reflect this.

PalenQ

If into biking you could also take a train to Gouda from Amsterdam -a sweet old historic cheese town with a quaint look - rent a bike at the station and cycle the 10-15 miles or so to Kinderdijk - going largely thru farms and then you can cycle right thru the heart of the mills, which on a bike is a real treat.

But it's a fairly long return bike trip if never biked.

Or rent a bike and put it on the Waterbus in Rotterdam (if accommodated) and just ride around the Kinderdijk area:

https://www.google.com/search?q=kind...HRyYBZoQsAQIGQ

theatrelover

Another question regarding this which I haven't found a clear answer to. I see mention online that there is a day trip ticket that we can get that includes the waterbus, ferry and entrance to Kinderdijk. Am I correct that we can buy this ticket at the waterbus dock and that it is cash only? Do you know if the ticket is for round trip travel to and from the Kinderdijk?

tonfromleiden

You can buy the ticket on the ferry. Probably for the whole trip (the price to Ridderkerk is the same as to Kinderdijk). No electronic payment. The complex of Kinderdijk has no entry. The museum does, but you can skip that.
If you've got the time, you can continue with the same Waterbus service to Dordrecht. Beautiful sight when arriving by ferry. Historical city worth a stop, if only for lunch. You can take the train back from Dordrecht to Delft. They run frequently.

theatrelover

I am having lots of trouble translating the waterbus website into English. I see there is a ticket for the waterbus that I think we buy on their website (they call it an e-ticket) which will also get us 20% off at Kinderdijk. I cannot tell how much this e-ticket is, if it is for round trip transportation and whether it is just for the waterbus or includes the ferry. If you can help me out here, I would greatly appreciate it.

tonfromleiden

Their website is somewhat amateurish to say the least. But this is what I got out of it:
With those e-tickets the trip costs EUR 6 and - if relevant - EUR 4,40 for children from 6 to 12 (free up to 5). These are »day tickets«, implying a round trip. They must be good for both legs (Rotterdam-Ridderkerk and Ridderkerk-Kinderdijk, which is also Waterbus).

PalenQ

Waterbus sounds great- different views than from train lines or roads- going under imposing bridges rather than over them.

Again - does Waterbus take bikes as I think I've read in similar posts by menachem and others.

theatrelover

Thank you tonfromleiden. That is a wonderful idea to spend some time in Dordrecht.

theatrelover

Thank you so much for helping me with this. This is the first website I have looked at for this trip that gave me this much trouble.

menachem

Bikes go free on the Waterbus. The aft deck is where you can put them: bike racks provided.

And tonfromleiden is right: Dordrecht is a beautiful city, and the fountainhead of the Dutch nation and of calvinism (and even of the Dutch language itself)

and i saw something different here:

http://www.waterbus.nl/specials/#kinderdijk

this is a day ticket: all Waterbus stops (so also further up river) and the Driehoek ferry to Kinderdijk: 13 euros

That would allow you to also travel beyond Dordrecht to the Biesbosch nature reserve, and even to Sliedrecht.

Also, in Rotterdam you'll be able to get on the Aqualiner with the same ticket to RDM (shipyard on Heyplaat, an artificial peninsula in the Rotteram Harbour) The Submarine Hall is immense, and there is the ever down to earth Courzand to have lunch or even dinner, but at least a drink.

theatrelover

Menachem you are great! This is perfect for us and thank you for the suggestions of other places to visit. I will put all that in my notes.

I appreciate the help from everyone. We are so looking forward to our three weeks traveling around The Netherlands. We leave April 7 which is almost here.

dfourh

Changing at Ridderkerk is no sweat. The short little hop on from there to Kinderdijk isn't worth a lot of trouble to buy in advance - - the guy on the ferry takes your money and gives you a (round-trip) ticket. Very simple. Just check the return ferry times, to make for a smooth return.

When you get off the ferry there is a large cafe that rents bikes at a decent price (highly recommended) and they do a brisk business.

Doubling back to Ridderkerk, and then continuing on to Dordrecht makes for a great day out. Dordrecht has great sights, walks, and restaurants.

PalenQ

When you get off the ferry there is a large cafe that rents bikes at a decent price (highly recommended) and they do a brisk business.>

Great info - if at all possible try riding one of those Dutch tanks (heavy-duty bicycles though they may rent lightweight ones too) thru the mills - do like the Dutch do - may be a highlight of your trip.

menachem

As I said, I cycle there often. One nice route is to take the path through the row of mills, all the way to the bridge at the end (keep pedalling) turn right immediately after. Keep going along the water, then go right again over the bridge (Kortland). Stay on Kortland until you get to the major arterial road: cross it to get to the bike path on the other side and follow it to the first large intersection. There are traffic lights there. Turn left and keep going until you see "Recreatiecentrum Vinkenwaard" on your left hand. This is a lovely spot for coffee or lunch. Go back the same way, or go straight on at the big intersection and cycle into Alblasserdam. From there, cycle along the Noord river all the way back to Kinderdijk (there's a very good bike path there, they just upgraded it) Just follow the path: it will lead you back to the place where you rented your bikes.

One noteworthy thing about the entire area: it's part of the Dutch Bible Belt and very, very calvinistically religious. This is visible most on sundays, in the villages along the river: large groups of church goers will walk to church, men in suits, women modestly dressed with hats. It's very distinctive. The entire area is a bedrock of very conservative politics. I know that most people think of the Netherlands as really liberal (mostly because Amsterdam is all they get to see), but areas like these show how very conservative large swaths of the Netherlands really are.

theatrelover

Wonderful ideas. Thank you so much!

Lamarcus33

thanks for the info

Dayle

I will be visiting in early May and also staying my first two nts in Delft. I plan to visit Kinderdijk the first Sat when most of the mills should be working. Should I expect large crowds on this special day and get an early start?

If I dont bike once I arrive, is it a long walk out to the site or do you get off the ferry right there?

Thanks so much for this detailed info and for sharing. So helpful!