Schoonhoven: Silver City with a History

If you’re looking for a hotel in Schoonhoven, you can plan your stay around three local themes: the silver tradition, the history of the Waterline and the walking routes. From Schoonhoven, you can enjoy a view across the Lek; the ferry across the river and paths near the town help you get your bearings. The local highlights can help you plan your time around the interests that bring you to Schoonhoven.

Silversmithing at the museum and in the workshops

Schoonhoven’s tradition as a silver city is almost 700 years old. After local lords commissioned the first silversmiths in the 14th century, the town developed into a unique centre of silversmithing. This craft takes centre stage at the Nederlands Zilvermuseum, which manages a unique collection of Dutch silverware dating from 1600 to the present day. The museum is housed in Schoonhoven’s old arsenal.

The museum offers workshops. Children can work in the silver workshop and take part in a scavenger hunt every day. As programmes may change, it’s a good idea to check the current activities before your visit. At the Zilversmederij, visitors can watch goldsmiths and silversmiths create special pieces. Whether the smiths are present on a particular day may vary.

The Nederlands Zilvermuseum is fully wheelchair accessible, and a wheelchair is available. Check the current facilities information before your visit. You can also encounter goldsmithing and silversmithing outside the museum: workshops, galleries and studios are spread throughout Schoonhoven. Visitors can enter working studios, learn about the work there and hear the smiths’ stories. Access to individual studios may vary.

Veerpoort, the Waterline and walking routes

Schoonhoven was a fortified town in the Oude Hollandse Waterlinie. The Veerpoort was built in 1601 as part of the fortifications’ modernisation. It still closes when water levels are exceptionally high. The gate thus brings together the town’s history as a fortress and its role in managing water.

There are two routes of different lengths to choose from. The Waterlinieommetje Schoonhoven is four kilometres long and takes 45 minutes. The “Van Soldaat tot Zilversmid” town walk covers 3.5 kilometres and is listed as taking one hour. It starts and ends at TOP Schoonhoven, Buiten de Veerpoort, in Schoonhoven. The distances and stated durations give you concrete points of reference when deciding which walk fits your day’s plans.

Other routes run near and along Schoonhoven, over dykes or through the polder. This lets you combine a visit to the town with different views of the surrounding area, without all the routes following the same path. The view across the Lek helps you get your bearings along the river. The ferry connects Schoonhoven and Gelkenes across the Lek; check the timetable for your travel date when planning your journey.

Plan your journey and parking

Bus routes 195, 295 and 497 stop in Schoonhoven and depart from there. As timetables may change, check your connection against the current timetable before travelling. This is especially helpful if your journey depends on a particular bus connection or the ferry departure time.

Parking in Schoonhoven is free. Car park P2 Centrum is on the south side of town; from there, it’s just a few minutes through the Veerpoort to the historic town centre. Local parking regulations may change, so check the latest information about the car park before setting off. Together with the walking times, bus routes and ferry connection, this gives you practical points of reference for planning the timing of your visit to Schoonhoven.

For the main travel overview: Schoonhoven.