1. Around Leusden 16 km (5 portages), canals of Amersfoort 5 km extra.
2. All the canals in Amersfoort and a trip on the Barneveldse Beek 20.1 km (2 portages).
Kayak rentals:
Kantje Boord, Gasthuislaan 70, Amersfoort.1. Around Leusden.
The 16 km trip around Leusden is a marked ANWB route provided with kayak piers. The marked route starts outside Leusden at the weir in the Valleikanaal and goes counter-clockwise. This has the advantage that you go with the current on the canal (actually this is the canalized river Eem). You go the other way on the Heiligenbergerbeek, but there is hardly any current here. I made this trip the other way around. The Heiligenbergerbeek passes through the woods Lockhorsterbos and the estate Den Treek. It is very beautiful. I can also recommend making a few kilometers extra and make a tour along the canals of the city center of Amersfoort. The Valleikanaal is a bore, but you'll have to pass it to make a round trip.To the starting point at the Valleikanaal:
From highway 28, take exit 7 towards Leusden. Go straight on at the roundabout, two traffic lights, and at the second roundabout. Then turn left at the traffic lights (Asschatterweg). After 500 m there is a bridge across the Vallei Kanaal. Just across the bridge you turn left. You see the weir with kayak piers at both sides.Kayak trip around Leusden (clockwise)
You start going upstream for some time. You pass the kayak rental-rental. A little further on you see the former locks Bonenburgersluis with a kayak pier on you right. Carry the kayak across the hill and lower it into the Oude Lunterse Beek. The Oude Lunterse Beek (no visible current here) goes trough the woods and there are many bends. After a few km you come at a busy road. The bridge is too low to go under. But there is a great invention here, maybe unique in the world. You put the kayak in a carrier. The bottom is below the water-line so that any kayak or canoe (if not too long) can pass under the bridge. By turning a wheel, a mechanism pulls the carrier to the other side of the bridge.Update July 2018: The devise is broken down.
You continue and go straight on at the next weir. After a while you pass under the highway and you come at a device to stop floating woods and things.
You have to carry the kayak around it. Then you can turn right towards the Vallei Kanaal. But I can recomment to make a detour straight on towards the city center. You have to carry across the weir though. There are no kayak piers (not the official ANWB-route), but the sides are low, so this is no problem. Just follow the canal. At the city-wall you turn left and pass under the Waterpoort. From here you can paddle on the canals. You return under the Waterpoort and go back on the Heiligenbergerbeek. At the portage point you turn left on the canal to the Valleikanaal. Here you have to portage again, and then turn right. After 2 km. you return at the starting point.
2. Amersfoort and Barneveldse Beek
Starting point Verdiweg in Amersfoort
At the portage point near the A27. You leave the A28 at exit 8 in the direction of the city center (Hogeweg). Directly after the intersection you exit right and then turn left across the overpass. The Operaweg makes a bend to the right after a bridge. Then you turn left on the Verdiweg. After the next bridge you turn left on the unpaved road. The portage point is at the end. This road may be closed by a barrier, but usually it's open. To be save not to find your car locked up when you return you can unload the kayak here and park a little further on.You head south on the dead end Verbindingskanaal to the Heiligenbergerbeek. Just before the intersection there is a kayak pier on your right where you can portage to the Heiligenbergerbeek. The pier on the other side is behind the bushes. You follow the Heiligenbergerbeek to Amersfoort. After a bend you pass under the Waterpoort. At the intersection you turn left and follow the canal. After the Museum Flehite the canal makes a bend to the right. After the bend you can turn left and paddle just a short distance to a passage under a house. It's not permitted to go there you you have to turn back. The other canal passes through the city center. In the middle is a place under a bridge where the excursion boats are stored. If the gates on both sides are open you can pass through, otherwise you have to return. When you pass under the Waterpoort again you keep left on the Eem. You pass the former city wall. At some places you can still see it. When you come at a weir you're at the Koppelpoort. You take out the kayak and walk under the railroad bridge. On the other side there is a floating pier on your left. You continue on the Eem. At the intersection you turn right on the Valleikanaal. You take the kayak out just before the bridge. You can not go to the side at the weir. If it's not too busy you can cross the street here. But if there's a lot of traffic it's safer to walk along the road to the traffic lights. Then you must walk back a short distance . You continue on the Valleikanaal. After a while you come at an intersection. You can turn left here for a visit to the Barneveldse Beek. After the bridge of highway A28 there is a weir. The sides are rather steep, but with a little efford you can go to the side on your left. After the weir it's not difficult to launch the kayak. You follow the main stream of the river (keep left on the first intersection, and then keep right. After a small wooden bridge the river splits. You can take either side. After 600 meters the branches merge. Then after a short distance you come at another weir. It's very difficult to go to the side here, so I advise to turn back here. When you come at the Valleikanaal you turn left. After a short distance you're back at the starting point.
Portages in Amersfoort at the weir near the Koppelpoort. You go under the railroad bridge.
At the Valleikanaal (150 meters or passed the traffic lights 300 meters, no facilities).
Downloadable GPS-track 20.1 km. through the center of Amersfoort and on part of the Barneveldse Beek: Amersfoort.
Bruinenburgersluis. Leave the Vallei Kanaal and carry across towards the Oude Lunterse Beek here.
The device to bring your kayak to the other side of this very low bridgeat road N226. In October 2018 the device was broken down, so you need to portage across a rather busy road.
Heiligenbergerbeek.
Heiligenbergerbeek near Amersfoort.
Waterpoort Amersfoort.
Huis Tinnenburg on the Zuidsingel.
Zuidsingel in Amersfoort.
The Historical Museum Flehite in Amersfoort.
Curchtower "Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren".
Zuidsingel.
Eem along the city wall.
Weir in the Eem at the Koppelpoort.
There are kayak piers so you can portage to the Eem. Pass through the tunnel under the railroad.
Koppelpoort.
Chandelier under the railraod bridge.
The Eem. A little further you turn right on the Valleikanaal.
Valleikanaal in October.
Barneveldse Beek.
Barneveldse Beek. Bridge of the wooden shoes walking route Stoutenburgerpad.
