Gorcum guides in the spotlight: through the eyes of Dick Bosch
“Even people who have lived here all their leven are still discovering new stories.”
When you walk through Gorinchem with Dick Bosch, you’re not just walking through a town. You’re walking through his leven.
Dick was born 79 years ago in the Laantje, right in the heart of Gorinchem’s city centre. He later moved to the Boerenstraat and, after marrying Trudy, lived on the Langendijk. It was only when no more housing was available in the town centre that the family was forced to move to the Gildenwijk.
But its heart? That has always remained within the fortress walls.
A leven connection with Gorinchem
Dick and his vrouw Trudy had a son and a daughter. Whilst he was working, his interest in the history of Gorinchem continued to grow. He had been a member of the Oud Gorcum Historical Society for many years and immersed himself in the city’s stories.
After a 42-year career with the fire service, he retired in 2007. It was the perfect moment to do more with his love for Gorinchem.
That’s how he became a city guide.
Sharing stories with visitors
What does Dick enjoy most about being a guide? Meeting people.
During his guided tours, he notices the same thing time and again. Visitors have soms been driving past Gorinchem on the A27 for years without realising what lies hidden behind the blocks of flats and industrial estates.
“Then they arrive in the town and say: ‘What a beautiful place this is.’”
That sense of wonder remains special to him. Precisely because he himself knows just how much beauty and history lie hidden behind the vestingwallen .
A place that never gets boring
If Dick had to pick a favourite spot, he would choose the Altenawal without a doubt.
According to him, the stretch between the Kriekenmarkt and the Dalempoort offers one of the most beautiful views of the town. From here, you can look out over the river landscape, the floodplains and the water that has shaped Gorinchem for centuries.
“Every day is different,” he says. “Every season has its own charm.”
The stories nobody knows
What Dick perhaps enjoys even more than well-known history are the stories that are often forgotten.
For instance, he enjoys telling the story of Jan van der Heijden, born in 1637 on Gasthuisstraat. It was on the site where JIP Lunchroom is now located that the leven began of the man who later developed the hose fire engine, thereby becoming of great significance to the fire service in the Netherlands.
“Many people have never heard of him,” says Dick. “Yet he was incredibly important.”
During a guided tour, he even met a man from Amersfoort who lived on Jan van der Heijdenstraat. It was only during the walk that the man discovered who his street was actually named after.
It’s moments like these that make guiding particularly enjoyable for Dick.
A city that lives
According to Dick, Gorinchem is special because it has not become an open-air museum.
“It’s a historic town, but one where people live, work, shop and meet up.” According to him, that’s what sets it apart from many other fortified towns. The town centre is full of life.
Gorinchem is also situated in the heart of a unique area. Within a short time, you can be in De Biesbosch National Park, the Munnikenland or at Slot Loevestein. The ferry services make it easy to explore the surrounding area, and in summer, a trip on the ferry is an experience in itself.
Surprises for residents
It’s not just visitors who learn something new during a city walk. As both a city guide and a tower guide, Dick regularly finds that even residents of the city centre discover stories they didn’t know before.
For instance, he enjoys talking about old house numbers dating from the pre-Napoleonic era. Or he points out details that people walk past every day without ever noticing them.
“You often hear people say: ‘I had no idea.’”
Even from people who have lived on the same street for decades.
A living painting
His personal tip for visitors? Head to Buiten de Waterpoort.
There you can see the river in all its hustle and bustle. The Merwede is one of the busiest rivers in Europe. Ships from Rotterdam sail towards Germany and pass through Gorinchem every day.
“I always call it a living painting.”
But, in his view, a walk along the vestingwallen is also an absolute must.
“Whether you visit in spring, summer, autumn or winter, the view never gets boring.”
Stories you wouldn’t otherwise hear
Why should everyone go for a city walk at least once? According to Dick, the answer is simple. Because it changes the way you look at the city.
Not just the buildings and streets, but above all the stories behind them. Stories that are soms centuries old, yet still feel surprisingly relevant today.
And it is precisely those stories that Dick loves to share most.
Choose your city tour - Gorinchem is full of stories. From hidden alleys to impressive history and surprising places. With a city walk, you will see the city as you have never seen it before.
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Gorinchem '40-'45 walk
Gorinchem '40-'45 walk
18 July, 22 August and 3 more days
VVV Gorinchem
Guided tour
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City walk with city guide (Saturday) | Mooigorinchem.nl
City walk with city guide (Saturday) | Mooigorinchem.nl
weekly
Guided tour
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City walk with city guide (Sunday) | Mooigorinchem.nl
City walk with city guide (Sunday) | Mooigorinchem.nl
weekly
Guided tour
