Biesboschcentrum Dordrecht — Attraction in Dordrecht

Love beavers? This is an anazing centre for exploring the best area of the Biesbosch: there's a whole range of self-guided walks that begin here. The cafe (newly renovated with a new, incredible menu) is wonderful too - even if you don't love beavers! There are views out onto the water ways, the food is reasonably priced, fresh, artisinal and delicious (you can get crisps, soft-drinks and all the kid-friendly choices, but their sandwiches, cakes and coffees were next level.) The Museum section is interesting and interactive, even if you can't read Dutch. The staff were friendly and helpful (and all spoke perfect English). Clean modern toilets. The shop has a great range of items (including many beavers) for a good price too. I recommend the little foot-Ferry that takes you onto the island (I think) is called Pilot Whale Island. It costs €2 for a return and €1 for children and runs at quarter to a d quarter past from about 10am to 5pm, but do check. We had the most wonderful walk around the green paradise - totally flat, wide grassy oaths and easy to navigate. There was one foot-bridge with steps at the centre of the figure-8 walk which could be skipped by making the walk into a shorter circle. We also walked the shorter 'beaverbos' walk (Beaver Woods) which had a human-sized beaver den and a wooden lake-lookout from which we saw a multitude of frogs croaking their little green heads off. There is a high ropes centre that looks incredible and seems to be open most days, but was closed for a school trip when we visited, so check ahead, but our kids were more than happy to explore the area. We left with tired legs, full bellies, happy memories and a...

We arrived without a booking as a group of 18 tandem cyclists, half with vision disabilities. The group split into 11 on the whisper boat, 5 on kayak/canoes,1 stayed at the centre. Everyone enjoyed the whisper boat and stayed for a drink in the cafe afterwards. I went in a kayak and had a fabulous paddle through narrow creeks bordered by bright flowers and larger rivers with loads of bird life. The 2 chaps who ran the boat hire put in sub-minimal amounts of effort and largely ignored us when we arrived and as we helped visually impaired people in and out of the canoes. They ignored us as we dragged the canoes back to the shed and returned life jackets. Despite this, all the group were keen to return later in...

Nice protected area albeit somewhat smaller than its southern counterpart, limited by the river Maas in the North and marshland and roads in the South and West. Also reachable from cities up the Maas as far as Rotterdam thanks to the water taxi! There is a tourist centre on site which offers food and drinks, near the parking lot, and two others spread over the area. There is a mini-ferry taking you further in the marshland but at winter seems to be closed. A small kids discovery trail is close by, and a big playground a bit further near an observatory for astronomers which also can be visited in summertime. There were lots of geese around so it’s probably a good idea, should you have a dog, to keep it on a leash...