Brielle

Brielle, also known as Den Briel, is a town with approximately 17,000 inhabitants, situated 35 kilometers from Rotterdam.

Brielle is located on the Brielse Meer, a part of the Maas River that has been transformed into a significant recreational area.

The town is like an open-air museum, with numerous monuments, narrow streets, squares, and old houses. There are over 400 historical buildings in the city. The medieval city walls, fortifications, and original street layout are mostly well-preserved.

Brielle holds historical significance as the first city in the Netherlands to be liberated from the Spanish in 1572 by the Watergeuzen (Sea Beggars).

To commemorate this anniversary, the city organizes an event every year on the first day of April. The celebration is a local festival featuring historical costumes and outdoor theater, attracting tens of thousands of visitors.

Prominent attractions include Saint Catharijnekerk, the ancient city walls, and the Arsenal. Arsenal, once a weapons depot, has been transformed into a library. There’s also an old windmill called ‘t Vliegend Hert. The water tower and the Slopenloods are also worth a visit.

How to get to Brielle from Rotterdam

The town is easily accessible by car (via the A15 highway) or public transportation.

From Rotterdam Central Station, you can take the metro to Spijkenisse and then bus 103 to Rockanje. From Rockanje, there are buses to Brielle. The journey takes approximately an hour and a half.

From Rotterdam Central Station, one can take a train jto Schiedam Centrum, and from there, board bus 89 to Brielle. The trip takes approximately an hour.

On this lin k you can visit the website of the local tourist information.

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