Discover Olterterp: Park, Nature and Walking Trails

Olterterp combines a landscape of country estates, forests and paths with Frisian stories. The country estate landscape zone of Beetsterzwaag and Olterterp lies on a sandy ridge in the valley of the Koningsdiep and includes forests, heathland, pastures and hay meadows. The landscape therefore ranges from wooded areas to open meadows and pastures.

Huize Olterterp and the park landscape

Huize Olterterp replaced the Boelensstate country house built in Olterterp in 1793. The building is a white villa with a hipped roof in a functionalist renewal style. Huize Olterterp Park has winding paths, undulating terrain, a pond and attractive vistas. The park design therefore allows visitors to experience different landscape elements directly alongside one another: paths, changes in elevation, water and unobstructed sightlines.

Park access and birdlife

Huize Olterterp Park is accessible year-round; parking is available in the park's car park. Old trees in Huize Olterterp Park provide tree cavities where tawny owls, nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers and hawfinches breed. The old trees are therefore just as much a part of the park landscape as the winding paths, undulating terrain and pond.

Walking routes through forests and country estates

The 4 km walking route “Als bomen konden spreken” follows paths and forest trails past wooden figures depicting, among others, Grutte Pier, Redbad and Boniface, and starts at Het Witte Huis. The 7 km Harinxma-Ommetje also starts at Het Witte Huis in Olterterp and leads through wooded areas and past country estates. The historical walking route “In adellijke voetsporen” runs through Olterterp and Beetsterzwaag. This provides two clearly specified route lengths for planning a day out. The shorter route combines forest trails with wooden figures, while the longer route incorporates wooded areas and country estates. The shared starting point, Het Witte Huis, makes it easier to distinguish the two routes by length and landscape.

Frisian figures and stories

The Beeldenroute Olterterp features figures from Frisian myths and legends on the country estate. The accompanying stories are provided in a booklet in Dutch and Frisian. The paths around Olterterp thus bring together historical walks, Frisian traditions and specific figure motifs.

Places in the surrounding region

Bakkeveen is a fort in the vicinity of Olterterp. Coendersborg is a castle in the wider region surrounding Olterterp. Lauswolt is a park in the immediate vicinity of Olterterp. Toutenburg is a castle in the wider region surrounding Olterterp. Fogelsangh State is a castle in the wider region surrounding Olterterp. Boswachterij Bakkeveen is a park in the vicinity of Olterterp. Allardsoog is a park in the vicinity of Olterterp. Mandeveld is a park in the vicinity of Olterterp.

Further places for orientation

Hemrik, Jonkerslan, Gorredijk, Wijnjewoude, Bakkeveen, Lippenhuizen, Tijnje, Frieschepalen

For the higher-level travel overview: Opsterland.