Huub Stapel follows the IJssel, the most idiosyncratic river in our country. It does not flow from East to West like other rivers, but towards the North. With its 127 kilometers, the river may be short, but it is very powerful. This series takes Stapel past beautiful Hanseatic cities and rolling banks with castles and estates. Past farmers working up a sweat on the swampy but fertile floodplains and past villages where time stood still. The beauty of the IJssel inspired countless painters, poets and musicians. From its origins near Westervoort to the place where it mixes with the water of the IJsselmeer: Huub follows the IJssel and meets people along the way who wholeheartedly accept that the fickle river determines their fate. In this way he investigates the role this river plays in the landscape, history and the lives of the people who live on its banks. Gelderland The journey along the IJssel starts in Westervoort and takes you past beautiful country houses and castles. Middachten Castle is the largest pearl. Here Huub has a special meeting with Count and Countess zu Ortenburg. Huub ends with Doesburg's pride: a delicious mustard soup. Information about the other episodes of Langs de IJssel will soon appear on our press site.