De Gouden Ham

Water as far as you can see

Between Appeltern and Maasbommel, in the heart of the Land van Maas en Waal, lies De Gouden Ham: a vast stretch of water with an open connection to the Maas. It is one of the larger water-recreation areas in the Netherlands, created from sand extraction, with peninsulas, marinas and a long sandy beach. You sense the openness at once: wide water, a high sky and the soft scent of river water and sun-warmed sand.

On a summer day you spread your towel on the beach, let the children paddle and watch the sailing boats glide slowly across the water. Those who prefer to keep moving rent a sloop, canoe or paddleboard and explore the quiet creeks and shores from the water.

Cycling and walking along the shores

Around the lake you wind along quiet dike and bank paths, with that broad river panorama travelling with you all the way. You ride past marinas where the masts tap softly, past reed beds where birds take shelter, and you easily pick up a terrace along the way for a coffee with a view of the water.

On foot you discover the quieter edges of the area: little paths through the green where you see dragonflies dart and, if you are lucky, a cormorant drying its wings on a post. It is the kind of place where you naturally slow your pace and simply take it in.

A base on the river

De Gouden Ham is within cycling distance of the villages of Niftrik and Batenburg, so a day by the water blends effortlessly with the dikes, castles and ferries of the region. At the end of the day you settle onto a terrace, a glass in hand and the evening sun low over the lake. Exactly the kind of calm that Flow is all about.