Walking along the Rijn Schiekanaal, Leiden is a very pleasurable walk, watching the waterways boat traffic and country life around Polderpark Cronesteyn. Up and about our local residence city Leiden can be an entertaining leisurely discovery walk, bike or boat if you own one 🙂

Polderpark Cronesteyn is an approximately 90-acre park in the city of Leiden in the Dutch province of South Holland. The park was realized in 1982, designed by Evert Cornet in the Kleine Cronesteinse or also known as Knotterpolder, situated between the A4 motorway, the railway Leiden – Alphen, and the waterways Rijn Schiekanaal and the Vrouwenvaart.

The park and the polder are named after earlier Castle Cronesteyn, the castle was demolished during the 80 – year war commissioned by the Municipality of Leiden so that it could not serve as a refuge for the Spaniards. Only the moat of the castle remains and is now part of the park estate woods.

You can scroll down to view the featured photos or watch the photo slider in the gallery here above.

Rijn Schiekanaal, Leiden

Pass the bridge and away from urbanized concrete into rustic ‘polder’ life.

There are beautiful routes near Polderpark Cronesteyn for an overview of walking & hiking routes, as well as bicycle routes just click on the links for a direct web link in English.

Photo overview walk route along Rijn Schie kanaal and Knotterpolder rustic life.

Walk the dog and jog for health and wellness

Newborn life in the Knotterpolder

Knotterpolder, it borders highway A4

a hidden tranquil spot

just around the corner near the walk route nosy neighbours

In and around Leiden waterways, you will find boats, dinghy’s, longboats, shallops and more

Rijn Schiekanaal

Rowing boats, pinnace for leisure and training competition

Leiden has around 88 bridges

In the background down south lies Leidschendam

boat traffic line up to cross the bridge

Rijn Schiekanaal from Leidschendam to Leiden

Polderpark Cronesteyn is the largest park in Leiden, covering a huge diversity of plants and animals. As the park is divided into several sections you will find a bog garden, butterfly meadows, an old estate woods, pastures with plenty of water and planting stock. Along the Rijn Schiekanaal route lies the entrance of protected bird nesting area ‘Reigerbos”, a breeding area for Herons as well as an apiary, more photo images will feature in our next post.