"Schoonhoven" a Schoonhoven Travel Page by Pijlmans

Schoonhoven was founded in the 13th century at the border between the provinces Holland and Utrecht. It lies directly at the river Lek, which flows to Rotterdam.

Schoonhoven was a fortified town and has several times been besieged; in 1572 by The Beggars (De Geuzen), and in 1575 by the Spanish. There is only one remaining city gate, called Veerpoort, close to the river Lek.

In the 17th century the town was home to a fleet of 30 ships and in the 18th century copper- and silversmiths came to town. The silversmiths of Schoonhoven became well known in the rest of the country.

In the end of the 19th century, a school for gold- and silver smiths was founded.

Silver still plays an important role in Schoonhoven, as judged by the many shops that sell jewelery.

In the Watertower a silver gallery and silver workshops can be found.

There also is a Gold, Silver and Clocks Museum in Silvercity Schoonhoven.

A visit to Schoonhoven can be combined with a 14 km long and marked hike along a small river and through pasture. This hike includes the beautiful Mill Bonrepas, the villages and churches of Polsbroek and Cabauw, and includes an old path used by churchgoers.

The hike is called "Cabauwse Jacobs route", after the Jacobs Church in the village Cabauw and is marked by the Dutch Touring Club ANWB.

The Tourist Office (VVV) can provide you with more information about hikes and bicycle routes in the neighbourhood of Schoonhoven.