Breukelen to Mauritshoeve via Vijfde Plas and Tienhovensche Plassen

Starting from Station Breukelen (Stationsweg 89, 3621 LK Breukelen), you’ll be walking through classic Vechtstreek lowland scenery: canals and ditches, wide peat meadows, reedbeds, and a chain of lakes and former peat-cutting waters on the edge of the Loosdrecht/Tienhoven wetland complex. The route is about 20 km / 12.4 miles with essentially 0 m / 0 ft of elevation gain—any “climbing” is limited to short ramps over bridges and dikes.

Getting to the start (Breukelen) - **Public transport:** Breukelen has an NS rail station with frequent connections in the Randstad. From the platforms you’re immediately at the trailhead area around Stationsweg. - **By car:** A very practical option is **P+R Breukelen** beside the station (multiple lots around Stationsweg/Amerlandseweg). It’s right off the **A2 (exit 5 Breukelen)** and is designed for day parking. ([amsterdam.nl](https://www.amsterdam.nl/parkeren/parkeren-reizen/buiten-stad/pr-breukelen/?utm_source=openai)) - **Navigation:** Load the route in **HiiKER** before you go; in this landscape, small path choices at dike junctions and bridge crossings matter more than elevation cues.

You’ll finish near Restaurant Mauritshoeve, Maartensdijkseweg 9, 3723 MC Bilthoven—a well-known landmark on the Bilthoven/Maartensdijk edge of the woods, useful as a clear end-point for pickup or a post-walk stop. ([mauritshoeve.nl](https://www.mauritshoeve.nl/contact/?utm_source=openai))

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Leaving the station area, expect a quick transition from village edges into open polder. Surfaces are typically a mix of paved cycle paths, compacted gravel, and narrow dike-top tracks. After rain, the unpaved sections can be slick, and the grassy edges can hide soft ground where the peat has settled—stay centered on the firm line of the path.

As you angle toward Vijfde Plas, the feel becomes more “water-first”: long straight drainage lines, occasional wind exposure, and big skies. Even on calm days, these open meadows can feel cooler than town—bring a wind layer. Because the route is flat and fast underfoot, it’s easy to underestimate time-on-feet; plan for 4.5–6 hours depending on pace and stops.

Wetlands, birds, and the Tienhovensche Plassen edge The highlight stretch is the approach to and along the **Tienhovensche Plassen** area, a wetland shaped by **historic peat extraction (vervening)**. The old peat-cutting pattern—narrow strips and water lanes—still defines the landscape, and the area is known for **marsh and water birds**. ([hollandgroen.nl](https://hollandgroen.nl/Natuurgebieden/nl/utrecht/tienhovense-plassen/Bezoekersinformatie?utm_source=openai))

A key planning detail: large parts of the Tienhovense Plassen are not freely accessible; they’re typically only entered on guided excursions, but you can still enjoy the area from viewpoints and the walking/cycling path along the water. ([hollandgroen.nl](https://hollandgroen.nl/Natuurgebieden/nl/utrecht/tienhovense-plassen/Bezoekersinformatie?utm_source=openai)) What this means on the ground: - Stick to the main public paths shown in HiiKER—side tracks may look inviting but can be restricted or dead-end at water. - Bring binoculars if you like wildlife watching; the best sightings are often from the path edges where reeds meet open water. - In warmer months, expect mosquitoes and midges near sheltered reedlines—repellent helps.

Wildlife you’re likely to notice includes a constant rotation of waterfowl and waders (the area is valued specifically for meadow, water, and marsh birds). ([hollandgroen.nl](https://hollandgroen.nl/Natuurgebieden/nl/utrecht/tienhovense-plassen/Bezoekersinformatie?utm_source=openai))

Landmarks and local history you’re walking through Breukelen sits in the **Vechtstreek**, along the **River Vecht**, an area historically shaped by trade routes and later by wealthy city families building summer estates.