Holiday apartment in Opsterland between heathland, waterways and history

Opsterland combines diverse landscapes with waterways, historic sites and networks of paths. The landscape includes forests, heathland, nature reserves, grassland, canals and peatland areas. In Mandefjild, heathland, forest, small bodies of water and former areas of drifting sand come together; the area has Natura 2000 status. Wijnjeterperschar comprises wet and dry heathland, nutrient-poor meadows, small bodies of water and an old meander of the Boorne.

Exploring the landscapes

Opsterland’s cycle network makes it possible to create your own routes from one junction to the next through landscapes and villages. The hiking network enables you to create your own routes from one junction to the next through forests, meadows and areas reflecting the municipality’s rich history. Opsterland has bridleways, particularly around Wijnjewoude.

In the Bakkefeansterdunen area, there are combinable hiking trails with lengths of 1.5, 3.5 and 8 kilometres. In Wijnjeterperschar, you can follow a three-kilometre poetry trail featuring fifteen poems by well-known writers. Opsterland also has tourist transfer points where visitors can park and begin their route by bicycle or on foot.

Waterways and history

The Turfroute is a boating route that runs through parts of Opsterland. In 2015, the Polderhoofdkanaal restored the connection between the Turfroute and De Alde Feanen National Park. There are nine locks on the Opsterlandse Compagnonsvaart between Gorredijk and Appelscha. Construction of the Opsterlandse Compagnonsvaart began near Gorredijk in 1630 for the transport of peat.

At the Sudergemaal, visitors can moor their boats and continue to Nij Beets. The Sudergemaal lies south of Nij Beets, directly on the Turfroute. It was built in 1924 as one of the first electric pumping stations in Friesland and is still almost in its original condition.

Culture and local insights

The Museum Opsterlân in Gorredijk displays the Wijnjeterp hand axe, dating from 150,000 BC, in its permanent exhibition. Huize Olterterp Park was formerly part of the Olterterp estate; the present country house replaced the former castle in 1907.

The open-air museum It Damshûs recreates peat workers’ houses, a church, the peat contractor’s pub, a small mill and other buildings at a 1:1 scale. The Joods Monument in Gorredijk commemorates the Jewish residents of Gorredijk who lost their lives during the Second World War. Kaasboerderij De Gelder in Tijnje offers guided tours explaining how the farm was established and the process of turning grass into cheese.

Connections

Opsterland is crossed by the A7 motorway and the N381 provincial road.

Holiday apartment in Opsterland: Which of these points are important to you is also a personal decision. Those choosing accommodation can look at the details of the individual offers and then carefully check the conditions. This keeps the next step focused on the specific offer.

Other places

Other destination pages lead to Bakkeveen, Frieschepalen, Beetsterzwaag, Gorredijk, Jonkerslan, Lippenhuizen, Olterterp, Wijnjewoude, Hemrik and Tijnje.

To the higher-level travel overview: Friesland.