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The Betuwe is a region in the far west of Gelderland, The Netherlands. The name under which its municipalities operate, Rivierenland (Land of rivers), explains exactly what you will find here.

Destinations

Subregions of Rivierenland

Neder-Betuwe (Culemborg, Geldermalsen) (Description)

Bommelerwaard (Zaltbommel) (Description)

Land van Maas en Waal (Beneden-Leeuwen, Druten) (Description)

Tielerwaard (Tiel, Maurik) (Description)

Cities

• Culemborg, historic city on the banks of the river Lek.
• Tiel, capital of the Betuwe. Most known for Flipje Tiel, the icon of the Betuwe.

Other destinations

• Beneden-Leeuwen
• Druten
• Maurik

Understand

Linge between Rumpt and Beesd.

The Betuwe is a region in Gelderland, located in-between the rivers Meuse, Waal, Nederrijn and Lek. Historically this included the parts of the Stadsregio Arnhem-Nijmegen located between these rivers, as well as the municipality of Rijnwaarden, but ever since the Pannerdensch Kanaal has been completed, Rijnwaarden has been focussed more on the Liemers, even though obvious differences existed in dialects.

The Linge river and canal dissect the Betuwe from east to west. The most important city in the region is Tiel. Other places of importance include Culemborg, Elst, Huissen and Geldermalsen. The entire region is most known for its horticulture, more specifically its orchards and the cultivation of apples, pears and cherries. This stereotypical sight of the region is only possible due to the rivers flowing through the region. These make the soil not only perfect for large amounts of cultivation, but they make the soil the best soil of the Netherlands as well.

The name of the region most likely means something along the lines of great soil. In contrast, the somewhat more northern Veluwe means terrible soil. Another possible explanation of the name may be that the name is deducted from the Germanic Batavi tribe, which inhabited the region during Roman times. During this time the border of the Roman Empire was located along the Old Rhine and Nederrijn. In multiple locations archaeological digs have uncovered Roman settlements. In Elst alone, three temples were uncovered.

During the later medieval times, the region mostly belonged to the Nijmegen Quarter, one of the four regions of the Duchy of Guelders. Excluded from the Nijmegen Quarter were the Duchies of Buren and Culemborg, as well as the Clevian exclave of Huissen.

The entire region has been evacuated twice, once during the fall of 1944, in the after-match of the allied operation Market Garden, as well as during January of 1996, when 140.000 people were evacuated due to high water levels in the rivers.

Get in

The lock and weir of the river Rhine near Amerongen.

By car

Two major routes run through the Betuwe. These are the A2 (E25) and A15 (E31) highways. The latter, together with the N322, run the entire length of the Betuwe.

When travelling from Amsterdam, take the A2 southward, heading for Utrecht. When travelling to Geldermalsen, take exit 15 on this highway. For Zaltbommel, keep on this highway and take exit 17. When travelling to any other location, use Knooppunt Deil located between exits 15 and 16 to turn onto the A15 heading for Tiel.

When travelling from Rotterdam, use the A15 to go east, heading for Dordrecht. The exits 30 through 37 all service the Betuwe. Again, Knooppunt Deil can be used to get to Geldermalsen and Zaltbommel.

To get onto the N322 from either of these places, head for Zaltbommel (exit 17 on the A2). Once off the highway, you will find yourself on the N322. Turning away from Zaltbommel leave the Betuwe in front of you, ready to be explored.

By train

The Betuwe has many train stations to its name. The most important ones are 1 Zaltbommel and 2 Geldermalsen on the line between Den Bosch and Utrecht, and 3 Tiel and 4 Kesteren on the line connecting the aforementioned line with Arnhem

Get around

By car

The region can easily be covered by car. As large parts of the Betuwe are covered in orchards, and since distances between cities are large, choosing a car as mode of transport is advised when travelling large distances. Haven't got a car? In Tiel alone, several car rental services are operational. These are:

• Autohopper Autoverhuur Tiel, Stephensonstraat 21, NL-4004 JA Tiel, ☏ +31 344 630 500. (updated Dec 2016)
• De Waal Autoverhuur, Marconistraat 13A, NL-4004 JM Tiel, ☏ +31 344 638 059. (updated Dec 2016)
• RentX Autoverhuur, Kattedoorn 5, NL-4007 SM Tiel, ☏ +31 639 374 343. (updated Dec 2016)

Getting your car delivered to a train station or any other location may be possible after calling the company of choice, though if you happen to arrive on, for example Schiphol Airport, then renting a car near said airport may be a better choice.

By public transit

The Betuwe can partially be travelled by train, but seen that only the land between the rivers Nederrijn/Lek and Waal have a railroad running through it, you will have to depend on busses when travelling in the region south of the river Waal. Trains are serviced by NS and Arriva, whereas busses are only serviced by Arriva.

By bike

Though not recommended for long distances, taking a bike may be one of the better ways to get to see the landscapes that the Betuwe offers. Like the rest of the Netherlands, the Betuwe too has well-maintained and safe bike lanes and routes, which make getting around by bike worthwhile.

See

Soelen castle, located near Tiel.

• Castles and forts are in high numbers in the Betuwe. They are usually well-maintained and often have artistical or historical expositions inside. Perhaps the most famous castle of them all is Kasteel Soelen in Zoelen and Slot Loevestein in the far western tip of the Betuwe.
• Panoramas and sights are in high numbers as well. The rivers, as well as the more inland areas give totally different, yet magnificent sights to behold. The region is not only covered in historical fortifications such as castles, but features many windmills and nature reserves as well.

Eat

• The Betuwe is known for its fruits. Local apples, pears and cherries can often be bought at greenhouses or orchards directly, or at local markets.

Go next

Routes through Betuwe

Amsterdam ← Utrecht ←	N  S	→ Eindhoven → Maastricht
Rotterdam ← Dordrecht ←	W  E	→ Arnhem (via A325)
Connection to A27 ←	W  E	→ Nijmegen (via A73)
Connects to A2 ← Culemborg ←	W  N	→ Veenendaal (via N233)
Utrecht ← Culemborg ←	W  E	→ Tiel → Arnhem
Utrecht ← Culemborg ←	N  S	→ Zaltbommel → 's-Hertogenbosch