Holiday apartment in Dantumadiel: Nature, Trails and History

Dantumadiel is located in the Noardlike Fryske Wâlden and is characterised by a distinctive landscape of hedgerows with bank hedges and alder hedges. Hiking and cycling are the main activities for daytime recreation, while water-based recreation plays a smaller role. Thus, landscape areas, historic trails and individual waterside activities come together here.

Nature and Trails

Bûtefjild is a 322-hectare nature reserve. In total, there are 16 kilometres of hiking trails there, including a marked route through the Bouwepet and a circular trail in the northern part of the Ottema-Wiersmareservaat. This reserve is a peatland landscape with lakes, pools, reed beds and wet hay meadows left behind after large-scale peat extraction.

Wildlife is also part of the Bûtefjild landscape: Many waterbirds spend the winter here, reed warblers return in spring and meadow birds inhabit the area. Thanks to the good water quality, otters thrive there. Roe deer and foxes can regularly be seen along the edges of the grasslands; almost all birds of prey can also be observed there.

From the De Falom landing stage, you can hike through the Houtwiel area. The route partly runs through peatland and passes an observation hill. This means that different landscapes exist side by side within the nature reserves: trails through the hedgerow landscape, peatlands, open water areas and wet meadows.

Culture and History

Feanwâlden is home to the Schierstins, the only surviving medieval stone defensive building in Friesland. It is also a national monument dating from the 13th century. The Schierstins houses a museum with changing exhibitions on history, art and culture. Lectures, concerts and other cultural events are also regularly held there.

A historic route combines activity and local history: the Feanwâlden Historical Route is 10 kilometres long and runs through Feanwâlden as a hiking and cycling route. Along the way, it passes buildings and notable places of cultural and historical value and explains the past with information panels.

The former Klaarkamp monastery is located near Rinsumageast. The site is a national archaeological monument and was the largest monastery in Friesland. The Alexanderkerk in Rinsumageast has the only church crypt in the Northern Netherlands. Its construction began in the 11th century, while the nave dates from the 12th century.

Churches and Monastery Trails

The Kloosterkapel Sibrandahûs is a medieval church and is considered an outer court of the former Claercamp monastery. From there, the 16.5-kilometre Sibrandahûs–Claercamp–Burdaard–Rinsumageast route takes you through the history of monasteries and churches.

A concert is held once a month on a Sunday afternoon at the Kloosterkapel Sibrandahûs. The programme ranges from classical music to rock. The chapel also offers pilgrims a simple overnight accommodation.

Local Life and Water

Sûnte is an organic, self-harvesting garden with herbs, fruit, vegetables and cut flowers. Geitenboerderij De Vries sells Hooidammer cheese at its farm on the Dokkumer Ee. At Eeltsjemar, you can swim, surf or sail.

Feanwâlden railway station has a car park and charging points for electric vehicles.

Other places in Dantumadiel include Broeksterwald, Sibrandahûs, Rinsumageast, Veenwouden and De Falom.

Other destinations include Skarsterlân, Weststellingwerf and Menaldumadeel.

For the higher-level travel overview: Friesland.