Holiday apartment in Westerhaar-Vriezenv Wijk – Peat History and Raised Bog

Westerhaar-Vriezenveensewijk is a place with an unusual combination of agriculture, peat extraction, regional history and peatland-shaped nature. Those who choose a holiday apartment in Westerhaar-Vriezenv Wijk will find a suitable setting for combining very different interests: historic landscapes, a walk through the Veenschap, art and the rare raised bog in the Engbertsdijksvenen nature reserve.

Holiday apartment in Westerhaar-Vriezenv Wijk between history and nature

The origins of Westerhaar-Vriezenveensewijk were shaped both by agriculture and peat extraction. Westerhaar initially developed as a collection of individual farms. Its residents used land leased from the monastery in Sibculo. Large-scale peat extraction brought workers from Drenthe and Friesland to Westerhaar-Vriezenveensewijk in particular and had a lasting influence on the development of the place.

The merging of Westerhaar and Vriezenveensewijk is also part of this local history. Over time, the two places partly grew together because a Reformed church was built between them in 1920.

Walking through the Veenschap

One specific way to get to know this landscape is the walk Ommetje Veenschap: geschiedenis. It leads through the Veenschap with its characteristic Vriezenveense pattern of long, narrow plots of farmland. Along the way, the route also crosses a corduroy road. This allows the walk to combine observation of the landscape with traces of the region's history of land use.

The conditions along the route are also important for your planning: Ommetje Veenschap: geschiedenis starts at Dalweg 39, 7676 SB Westerhaar-Vriezenveensewijk. Because of cattle grids as well as peat and sandy ground, the walk is not suitable for wheelchair users or people using mobility scooters. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can therefore consider whether this type of trail surface suits your planned activities.

Raised bog and regional discoveries

The Engbertsdijksvenen nature reserve is located east of Westerhaar-Vriezenveensewijk, nearby. It is a protected Natura 2000 area where rare raised bog can still be found. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore weigh up historic experiences, nature observation and active days outdoors without limiting the trip to just one type of experience.

The Boerderij Galerie Dekker offers cultural impressions. The building dates from 1911. The gallery regularly exhibits paintings by Jennie Dekker as well as works by other artists. For a stay with a varied rhythm, this art venue can be mentally combined with the walk through the Veenschap and the Engbertsdijksvenen nature reserve.

The Veenmuseum offers another historical experience: visitors can explore its grounds on an original peat train. Together with Westerhaar's origins and the history of peat extraction, this provides a vivid way to access a region where landscape and work were closely connected. A holiday apartment in Westerhaar-Vriezenv Wijk may therefore be particularly interesting for you if you are not only looking for nature but also want to discover the history behind the landscape.

Other places:Den Ham

For the overarching travel overview: Twenterand.