Discover Oudeschip: Dikes, Mills and an Audio Walk

Oudeschip combines a dike landscape, regional history and unusual discoveries within a compact thematic area. The village developed over the course of the 19th century along the Middendijk of the Oostpolder, near the mouth of the Groote Tjariet in the Eems. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Oudeschip will find opportunities here for leisurely walks, cycling tours and cultural stopovers.

Dike History and the Landscape by the Water

The Oostpolder was diked in 1718. During a storm surge, a dike breach west of Oudeschip created the Ailsgat (Aeilsgat), an old kolk directly behind the dike. The dike was subsequently rerouted around this kolk. It is precisely this combination of water, dike construction and local history that makes the landscape interesting for visitors who want to discover not only the route itself but also regional connections along the way.

The Wytsemakooi lies just west of Oudeschip. It belongs to Natuurmonumenten and is considered the oldest duck decoy in the province of Groningen. The Wytsemakooi serves as an excursion destination; at certain times, Natuurmonumenten volunteers lead excursions there. It thus adds a destination of natural and cultural-historical significance to the landscape.

Mills, Houses and Places of Remembrance

In 1866, an octagonal grain mill of the stelling mill type was built in Oudeschip. Along the Dijkweg there are also farm laborers’ houses with attached or freestanding barns. The nearby Molen Goliath offers another perspective on regional development: the polder mill was built in 1897 and is an important, fully preserved example of the history of land reclamation in northern Groningen.

Near Oudeschip, the Noordkaap memorial stands on the sea dike and commemorates the pilots who died in the Second World War. A memorial ceremony is held there every year on 4 May. A local legend is also associated with the Aeilsgat: during the Christmas Flood of 1717, a mermaid, a “zeewiefke,” is said to have been washed into it and remained trapped there after the dikes were rebuilt.

Walks, Cycling Tours and Special Destinations

The theatrical audio walk “Oudeschip” leads from Eemshaven to Oudeschip and conveys stories about the area and its inhabitants. The route is 4.5 kilometers long and is guided by a GPS system in the headphones. It ends at the Dorpshuis Diggelschip in Oudeschip, where visitors can view a photo exhibition by Jedidja Smalbil.

For a walk, the route from the parking area at the village community center behind the dike can lead across the Aeilsgat back to the center of Oudeschip. Another option is the “Oosteinde – Oosteinde” cycling route, which leads to Oudeschip via the Dijkweg. From Oudeschip, the Molen Goliath is also considered a destination for a cycling tour.

The “Het Molenwiekje” playground is located on the dike in the center of Oudeschip. It is intended as a rest area for a cycling tour with children along the dike. Kwekerij Aan de Dijk is a nursery with a show garden at Dijkweg 99 in Oudeschip. The show garden has narrow paths, seating areas, a bamboo grove and a perennial garden with ferns and shade plants. It also includes a 30-meter-long planted dike and other areas with grasses and shade plants.

Choose Oudeschip as Your Holiday Destination

When choosing a holiday apartment in Oudeschip, you can plan your preferred daily rhythm around the available destinations: a guided audio walk, a walk behind the dike or a cycling tour to Molen Goliath. The village’s history stretches from the embankment of the Oostpolder through the landscape of mills to memorial sites and local stories. This allows you to enjoy a varied stay without having to consider nature, exercise and culture separately.

Other Places in the Surrounding Area

For further orientation, you can also discover Roodeschool, Eemshaven, Warffum, Uithuizermeeden and Uithuizen.

To the higher-level travel overview: Eemsmond.