Holiday apartment in Waskemeer – heathland, trails and village history

Waskemeer combines heathland, hiking trails and a village history marked by special places of remembrance.

Hiking among heathland, meadows and villages

The 14th stage of the Groot-Frieslandpad runs for 24.2 kilometres from Beetsterzwaag to Waskemeer. The 24.2-kilometre distance provides a clear planning reference for a day of hiking. The start and finish are set at Beetsterzwaag and Waskemeer. The Swalkroute Waskemeer is a hiking route through the meadows, the Duurswouderheide and the village of Waskemeer; shortly before leaving the Duurswouderheide, it runs along the Waskemar. Along this route, meadows, heathland and village sections alternate. The Bauernlandweg Waskemeer runs across the lands of the Janssen-Stichting and connects Haulerwijk with Wijnjewoude. Haulerwijk and Wijnjewoude define the direction of the route; the lands of the Janssen-Stichting lie along the way.

Heathland and orientation at Het Blauwe Bos

The Duurswouderheide is considered the largest heathland area in the province of Friesland and covers 150 hectares. At 150 hectares, the Duurswouderheide provides a specific figure for planning a day in the heathland. Its landscape forms a striking contrast with the meadows and village sections of the Swalkroute. At the eastern entrance to Het Blauwe Bos, there is a car park, an information board and a playground. The car park, information board and playground are located there at a shared entrance to Het Blauwe Bos. For a day in nature, parking, information and recreational facilities are available in one place.

History between the origins of the name and places of remembrance

Waskemeer's history is also reflected in specific places and names. The Waskmar pond gave Waskemeer its name. Waskemeer gained the status of an independent village in 1954 and was previously called Haulerwijk-Beneden. The former name Haulerwijk-Beneden belongs to the period before it became an independent village. The Simon van Hasselt memorial is a marble commemorative plaque with an inscription and commemorates the deportation of the Jewish Van Hasselt family. There is also the Waskemeer – Haule II archaeological site, with settlement remains from the Mesolithic period. The year 1954 and the Mesolithic period are far apart in time. The Simon van Hasselt memorial and the Waskemeer – Haule II site therefore belong to different historical periods.

Festivals, music and shared experiences

The Poptimaal Festival is an annual music festival held in Waskemeer for people of all ages. It has developed into an event featuring music, sports and games, and also includes a run for both age groups. De Beer van Waskemeer takes place on the last Saturday of the school holidays each year. The holiday calendar provides the timeframe for De Beer van Waskemeer, while Poptimaal takes place annually in Waskemeer. The annual calendar of Waskemeer therefore includes a second holiday-related event alongside the festival.

Discover more places

If you would like to include other places in addition to Waskemeer, you can find Oosterwolde, Elsloo, Oldeberkoop, Ravenswoud, Nijeberkoop, Fochteloo, Appelscha and Haule here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Ooststellingwerf.