{"id":20593,"date":"2022-07-15T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-15T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thegreenlist.nl\/?p=20593"},"modified":"2026-01-23T12:29:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T11:29:21","slug":"doing-in-rotterdam-wandering-through-the-bushland-of-rhoon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thegreenlist.nl\/en\/doen-in-rotterdam-struinen-door-het-buijtenland-van-rhoon\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to do in Rotterdam: strolling through the Buijtenland of Rhoon"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you live near Rotterdam or go on holiday, an outing to the Buijtenland van Rhoon nature and recreation area should not be missing from your bucket list.<\/strong> Less than ten kilometres by bike from Rotterdam, you will find this nature-friendly polder on the surprisingly green island of IJsselmonde. Here you can leave the delusion of the city behind and unwind. But you can also learn all about nature-inclusive agriculture here<\/strong>. Enjoy a local beer in town. And then come by bike to this polder to relax and see how your lager was made.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Island of IJsselmonde: Rotterdam's backyard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In cooperation with the Buijtenland van Rhoon and Ontdek IJsselmonde<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this sustainable outing, I descend to the Eiland IJsselmonde, a surprisingly varied nature area between Rotterdam and Dordrecht. Even for many Rotterdammers and holidaymakers from the region, this is still an undiscovered gem. Here you will find beautiful nature areas, sometimes well hidden behind residential areas or industry. But once found, it is great for walking, cycling, sailing or bird-watching. On Eiland IJsselmonde, you will find green oases with rare pilot whales, rugged storm forests, landscape gardens and special polders. One of those special polders is the Buijtenland van Rhoon. I was invited here on a press trip to see for myself how beautiful this area is and how hard work is being done here to preserve and improve nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buijtenland of Rhoon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

IJsselmonde Island has an awful lot to offer, including the nature-friendly polder: the Buijtenland van Rhoon. I came especially for this. This is a unique agricultural project where farmers, recreational entrepreneurs and nature lovers have joined forces in a cooperative to show how things can be done differently: agriculture and recreation with respect for nature. At this site, honest food is made for Rotterdam residents, but the area is large enough to provide ingredients for more sustainable food entrepreneurs. If you're from Rotterdam, you've probably heard of bread from Das Brot<\/a>, beers from the Vaanbrewers<\/a> or Fat & Lazy<\/a>, cider from CiderCider <\/a>and gold-of-pleasure oil from The Buytenhof<\/a>. Exactly, these entrepreneurs get their ingredients from this area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I learnt this as I was led by area manager and nature guide Arjan Ponsen<\/a> started walking the new trail. A great outing to do by yourself or with guidance if you are interested in nature and local, sustainable food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cutlural historic polder landscape<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The polders of the Buijtenland van Rhoon were man-made from silted-up sea clay. Before the reclamations, water flowed in and out of this place for centuries. Most of the polders in this area have disappeared, making way for residential areas, infrastructure, port works and greenhouses. The Rhoon polders have always remained intact, part of which has now become the Buijtenland van Rhoon. In 2018, farmers in this area switched to nature-inclusive agriculture, which is small-scale farming with respect for nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a unique project, as it is the first project in the Netherlands where nature, agriculture and recreation take place on such a large scale. But the project is far from finished. Historic crops have returned, nature-friendly banks and paths have been created and every day farmers are doing their best to bring nature back into balance while farming. In the coming years, the area, which covers six hundred hectares, will see even more recreation. In short, even more to enjoy strolling through nature so!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Strolling through the nature-friendly polder of the Buijtenland of Rhoon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Got excited about this area and want to go for a stroll too? With the following tips from nature guide Arjan, you are guaranteed a beautiful day and the area will come alive even more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n