The island of Voorne-Putten is a half-hour drive from Rotterdam, a place full of history and special places. There are four municipalities on the island, each with its own character. I went on an exploration trip to Brielle and visited Hellevoetsluis. I came to the conclusion that Voorne-Putten is a great, versatile holiday destination in the Netherlands with something for everyone. Water sports, beach, culture, history, it all comes together here. Take a look at my tips for a visit to Voorne-Putten!

City walk in Brielle

One of the best activities to do on Voorne-Putten is to take a city walk through the fortified town of Brielle. After Harlingen, Brielle has the most monuments per inhabitant in the Netherlands: there are no fewer than 400. You can imagine that there is more than enough beauty to admire during a city walk. If you are interested in the stories behind the sights, I recommend taking a guided walk. This can tell you everything about what you encounter along the way. You can book a guided walk here. Even if you don't want a guide, it is definitely worth exploring Brielle. There are so many beautiful buildings to admire that are impressive even without the accompanying stories. Whether you go with a guide or not: make sure you don't miss the extremely well-preserved fortifications of Brielle. I thought this was a wonderful part of Brielle, full of greenery and history.

Additional tip: If you are in Brielle on April 1, it will be one big party. On April 1, 1572, Brielle was the first city in the Netherlands to be liberated from the Spanish during the Eighty Years' War. Every year 'liberation day' is celebrated exuberantly and the liberation is re-enacted. Special to experience!

Sailing in Brielle

In addition to a city walk, sailing in Brielle is also a great activity. The Brielse Meer, formerly the Brielse Maas before the water was dammed, is a real hotspot for water sports enthusiasts. With a length of no less than 10 kilometers, the Brielse Meer offers more than enough opportunities for fun on the water. There are various sunbathing areas, beaches and campsites on the banks, so even if you don't want to be active, this is a wonderful place on a warm summer day. From the Brielse Meer you can also sail straight into the city center of Brielle. You can easily rent a sloop or lounge boat via Verhuurcentrum Brielle to explore Brielle from the water.

Pilgrimage Church of the Holy Martyrs of Gorcum

I don't often visit churches when I travel, whether in the Netherlands or abroad, because they don't mean much to me. Yet the Pilgrimage Church of the Holy Martyrs of Gorcum did make it into this overview. The story of the pilgrimage church is sad: in the 16th century, 19 Catholic clergymen were hanged here by the Water Beggars. They were buried in the garden behind the church. Two centuries later, these clergymen were canonized and it has been a place of pilgrimage ever since. A sad history can still be felt in this place. I thought the church with its high vaults was super impressive, but the garden in particular makes this a must-see attraction on Voorne-Putten. The church is freely accessible in July and August. In the other months you can come by appointment. You will find the contact details here.

Dry dock Jan Blanken

Let's stay in the past for a moment: Jan Blanken Dry Dock in Hellevoetsluis is the oldest stone dry dock in Europe and it is still in active use. A dry dock is essentially a maritime garage, a place where ships are brought ashore for repairs and maintenance. This dry dock dates from the early 19th century and it is difficult to understand how they could create such an ingenious system at that time. Upon arrival I was somewhat skeptical and wondered how interesting a dry dock could be. Very interesting, as it turned out. You really need to take a tour to understand what you are looking at and why this is such a special place. During the tour you will also go underground and discover the tunnel system under the dry dock. Very cool to see!

Additional tip: are you here around lunchtime or dinner time? Then sit down at the adjacent Fortezza restaurant for a delicious plate of pasta.

The Zandwacht on the Second Maasvlakte

When you think of the Maasvlakte, do you mainly think of industry? At least I did and it was so nice to discover that there is also a fantastic beach on the Second Maasvlakte! This beach is on par with the beaches in Zeeland and you absolutely do not notice that there is a port area with heavy industry relatively close by. I recommend that you go onto the beach at the Zandwacht artwork. This is a beautiful place to relax for a day on a summer day. In any case, the Zandwacht itself is also worth a visit. This work of art depicts how dunes are formed by drifting sand that falls again in irregular shapes. I don't know if I see that in it, but it is definitely beautiful.

Dunes of Voorne

There is also plenty to do on Voorne-Putten for nature lovers. For example, the Voorne Dunes in Rockanje are a varied hiking destination with forests, swamps, dune valleys and sand slopes. With a bit of luck you will spot Icelandic ponies or Scottish Galloway cattle here. Don't miss the Quackjeswater and the Breede Water during your exploration. Natuurmonumenten plotted this route through the Dunes of Voorne.

Hellevoetsluis Lighthouse

In my opinion, one of the most beautiful sights on Voorne-Putten is the lighthouse. This reminds me a lot of the lighthouse that I saw along the Great Ocean Road in Australia and this immediately created a holiday feeling. Even if you are not familiar with its Australian sister, this lighthouse is a sight to see. The tower dates from the early 19th century and is still in use. Would you like to admire the lighthouse from the inside? It is open to the public every last Sunday from May to September and during Open Monument Day.

Accommodation on Voorne-Putten

Would you like to stay at Voorne-Putten for a few nights? Then there are plenty of nice small-scale accommodations to be found. You can choose to stay in the center of charming Brielle.

Want to know more? You will find many more great tips and information on OPVoornePutten.nl. Before your visit to the island, be sure to check the agenda to see whether any fun events are being organized during your holiday.

At Voorne-Putten you can enjoy a wonderful holiday or a weekend away in the Netherlands. I thought it was a surprisingly fun, versatile destination full of history and stories. Want to know more about holidays in your own country? Here you can read all our articles about the Netherlands.