Defence-Island Woerden - From Labour to Living
Thursday April 17th 2025 t/m Sunday October 5th 2025
Water and military activity are common threads in the history of Woerden. They come together in Defense Island: now a small neighborhood, between railway station and city center, which has totally changed its character in over twenty years. From closed military work site to an open and trendy residential island, situated around the centuries-old castle.
It has long been an inaccessible area, except for those working on the island. Nowadays it is the main connection from the station to the city for cyclists and pedestrians. An open and accessible area, where many Woerden residents and visitors enjoy walking a lap, watching the beautiful views on all sides.
Military history and modern architecture
The exhibition takes you through the history of the island. From 'The Warehouse' in the Castle to the piece of land that later is called Defense Island. The exhibition also tells you about the period after the the Defense ministery left the site, when Woerdeners are invited to dream about the future of this piece of land. A period also in which they enjoy the many cultural activities organized on this sanctuary. Finally, the municipality, developers and architects talk about how they transformed the island into a modern residential area, and how parts of history are integrated in an unmistakable yet subtle way.
Guided tours for groups
Guided tours of the exhibition by an experienced guide can be booked by contacting the museum on contact@stadsmuseumwoerden.nl (€3.75 p.p., min. €37.50, excl. entrance ticket, ).
The city guides (Gilde Woerden) offer walks in the Defense Island area from May 1 (€4 p.p. + €5 administration per group, info@gildewoerden.nl - please mention that you apply for a tour in English and ask if this is possible). This walk can be perfectly combined with a guided tour of the exhibition.
