It’s high tide again!

[UPDATE 26 MARCH: WATER LEVEL HAS DROPPED AGAIN]

Pilgrims leaving at this time: due to the recent rain, it is high water in the river area. You will notice this at the beginning of the route at the Ooijpolder – 2 kilometers from the starting point – and at the end from Deest to Beuningen.

If you find yourself in front of flooded parts of the polder, you can divert to the paved asphalt dike.

For map 1: if the pedestrian bridge under the Waal bridge (“de Ooypoort”) is not accessible before the bridge, turn right up the stairs to the street. Turn left here and at the German-Dutch pumping station turn left into the Ooijpolder via the dike. Follow the dike past the houses and then the first road on the left. After a while on map 2 you will be back on the route at the Roosje van Ooij (the cup of coffee sign on the map).

From map 30 onwards, leave the walking route and obediently follow the route description on the asphalt road if the Waal beaches turn out to be flooded.

If you want to get into the area, get ready for mud and mud!

Periods of high tide usually occur in February and March. For the current water level, check http://www.waterpeilen.nl

Photo: Ooijpoort at high tide in 2017 (near the old Waal bridge in Nijmegen center) by forester Rick Basten, Staatsbosbeheer

Read a background article about the high water by nature manager and photographer Fokko Erhart here.