Cycling around Nijmegen

Nijmegen is a city whose history goes back 2,000 years. Possibly it is the oldest city in what is now the Netherlands. Since 1923, with the arrival of Radboud University, Nijmegen has been a real student city. From the large shipping channel on the Waal to the narrower Het Meertje. On to the Ooijppolder which lies in the municipality of Berg en Dal. Before there were dikes, the Ooijpolder was a swampy area and was regularly flooded. Around 1300 the first dikes were built. At high tide it still often flooded. The floods did leave behind sand and fertile clay. Controlled flooding was thought of to reduce the risk elsewhere in case of emergency during high water in the river Waal. Today too many people live there to do this. Many old river arms and wheels (deep holes created by swirling water) and ponds can still be seen. In the bog area the Haterse and Overasseltse Vennen lies history. On the edge is the ruin of the St. Walrick Chapel with the summer oak beside it. This is also called the Fever Tree of Overasselt. There is a legend in which a chieftain asked St. Willibrord to cure his sick daughter and hung patches in a tree. The daughter healed and he converted out of gratitude. The Hortus Nijmegen is always freely accessible. There is a tea garden and rare plants and herbs grow there.