Polder, IJssel River, forest & Reeuwijk Lakes hike + Pumpkin soup & High Tea🎃🥳

Important! To sign up, please pay the € 5,- * Meet Up event fee directly (See notifications for tickie).* From 8 November the fee is € 5,95 *
* Upon signing up, you will initially be placed on the waiting list. Following approval, you’ll be moved to the attendee list, with priority given to regular members who have attended the most hikes over the past year.

To celebrate the anniversary of 3 amazing years of my Carpe Diem Meet Up group, we’re setting of on a special hike through the green heart of South Holland! This scenic 15 km trail offers a varied route starting at the historical medieval city centre of Gouda and leads us to the beautiful polders, along the IJsselpad trail by the river. After a cosy high tea lunch @ my home 'restaurant', we will continue the hike through the Goudse Hout forest, and the stunning Reewijkse lakes.

We’ll enjoy homemade pumpkin soup and a delightful home made high tea lunch with treats as a gesture of appreciation for everyone who has joined and supported Carpe Diem as regular attendees this past year. It wil be a day of delicious food, good company, and joyful memories.

📍Gathering 10:30 @ train station NS Gouda (centre side). The hike is a loop ending at the same spot.

Gouda city centre
Our journey begins in the historic city centre. As a local, I’m thrilled to show you around, starting with the Markt square with its fairy-tale City Hall, the Waag (cheese weigh house), St. Jan Church, and the old harbor. But we’ll also escape the crowds to discover tranquil canals, narrow streets, secret alleys, colorful courtyards, and parks adorned with autumn colors.

IJsselpad trail
Later on, we’ll follow the IJssel-path running alongside the river. We’ll cross a small bridge by a pumping station, joining a quiet riverside path behind the cemetery, which offers peaceful, low-lying views of the river. This scenic route through the Krimpenerwaard and Haastrecht areas reveals Gouda's charming rural landscapes, with a section enhanced by a path along the foot of the dike.

🥳🎃 Anniversary Cozy Lunch High Tea @ home restaurant 🎃🥳
After 8 km of riverside beauty, we’ll arrive at my home for a well-deserved lunch break, featuring:

• Homemade Pumpkin Soup
• High Tea with assorted sandwiches (pâté, salmon or tuna, hummus, ham, cheese, salads, and more)
• Sweet treats (panettone, scones or cakes, chocolates, and more)
• Tea/coffee and juices

Goudse hout forest park
Recharged, we’ll continue through Goudse Hout, a beautiful peace of countryside northeast of Gouda, featuring a mix of meadows, woodlands, and waterways. With scenic walking paths, diverse birdlife, and tranquil ponds, Goudse Hout transforms into a tapestry of autumn colours, with leaves turning amber, orange, and red. The flat landscapes, dotted with grazing sheep and wildflowers, offer a classic Dutch charm.

Reeuwijkse Plassen Lakes:
Our final leg takes us through the polders and this charming lake area. With pathways that feel like walking on water, it provides a peaceful retreat, offering views of open water, reedbeds, and scenic farmhouses. Surrounded by dikes and quiet grassy paths, we’ll walk between ponds and enjoy views over both the polders and lakes—a perfect way to immerse ourselves in nature.
Join us for a day filled with beautiful autumn views, good company, and delicious food as we celebrate Carpe Diem’s 3rd anniversary!

Join us for a day filled with beautiful autumn views, good company, and delicious food as we celebrate 3 years Carpe Diem anniversary!

Notifications:

• Meet up event fee: Eur 5,- (Eur 5,95 from 8-11) to be paid directly when signing up by tickie:
  https://www.ing.nl/payreq/m/?trxid=S38ywhn71CDEjwj85QdZqSkWu8XAUHKy
• When signing up, you will be put in waiting list first. Regular attendees of the last year will have priority for this event.
• We walk 4 to 5 km an hour average with 2/3 breaks, you should be fit for it and used to walks of -+ 17 km.
• Be aware that the hike will take the whole day, and the ending time is approximate..
• Bring sufficient water, snacks and lunch, although we might stop at a restaurant.
• Wear comfortable hiking shoes and gear with layers and a rain coat.
• Carpe Diem is an amateur activity group, participating is at your own risk.
• The hike might be adapted/shortened in case of bad/rainy weather. Only with extreme bad weather, or a low number of participants, I may postpone or cancel it. Only in this case, you can receive a refund or credit. Please check messages the evening before the event for last-minute updates.
• Please sign up only if you plan to attend and are ready to pay the fee upon registration. If something unexpected arises, kindly update your RSVP as soon as possible. Please note that the event fee is non-refundable and we kindly ask to avoid last-minute cancellations or no-shows.
• Thank you for your understanding and support in helping to maintain the group with a smooth planning and organization.