The Lakes and Meadows Route

Directions

• In the 17th and 18th century, Peize was Drenthe’s most important grower of hop, one of the raw materials used for to manufacture beer. The close proximity of the city of Groningen certainly had something to do with this. Production here was three times as high as in second- and third-ranked Roden and Eelde—also close to Groningen. But, in the second part of the 19th century, the production of hop vanished in lieu of the more lucrative growing of potatoes. Hop can, among other places, still be observed in the municipal coat of arms, the names of nursing home De Hoprank and restaurant De Hopbel—which had a beer tasting until 2009. At a slight distance from the route, along Hoppekampweg on the north side of the village, four hundred metres to the north of the church, a small hop field has been reconstructed.
• From Peize, you cycle towards Eelderwolde. Eelderwolde borders on the lakes Paterswoldsemeer, Hoornsemeer and Hoornseplas. This village offers a host of recreational options. Around 1850 Eelderwolde was a hamlet with only six houses and farms. In 1870 new roads Groningerweg and Veenweg were opened, making Eelderwolde a road-side village, with Café Welgelegen as its greatest attraction. This café was later transformed into a restaurant. In addition, the village had a grocery shop, a baker, a nursery and a smithy. Today, the former smithy is a bicycle shop, while the baker’s house of baker Van Ham and the house connected to the grocery shop are still in the same condition as in 1930.
• Via nature reserve De Onlanden you cycle towards the City Park Groningen. This is a 140-hectare-large park which is also a municipal monument. The park’s creation was an initiative of famous Groningen industrialist Jan Evert Scholten. He founded Vereeniging Het Stadspark (“city park association”) in 1909. The objective of this association was to collect money for a public park. Works on the park started in 1913. The park was designed by landscape architect Leonard Springer in cooperation with Groningen director of public works J.A. Mulock Houwer. The park’s official opening took place in the centrally-located Stadsparkpaviljoen (“city park pavilion”) on 19 May 1926. Building the park took 13 years. In 1931 a monument in tribute of Scholten was placed at a prominent location along Concourslaan.
• The route goes straight through Matsloot. This is an area which partially lies in the Groningen municipality and partially in Drenthe’s Noordenveld municipality. The region is named after Drenthe’s Matsloot, a wide watercourse that discharges into Leekerstermeer. Matsloot is also the name of the road running through the area. The part of Matsloot to the north of the A7 is part of Groningen. The area has been set up as an industrial estate and is called Westpoort.
• The route runs along the north side of the lake Leekstermeer. Leekstermeer developed from an old watercourse under the influence of the sea thousands of years ago. Due to the erosion of the peaty banks, the watercourse became wider and larger. The lake has traditionally been an important area for greater white-fronted geese and barnacle geese
• Although the route doesn’t go through Midwolde, Midwolde Church is clearly visible from the route. This church dates back to the 12th and 13th century and has a delightful interior. The organ is from 1630 and is originally from Borg Nienoord.
• In Kop van Drenthe, you find various country estates and manors. Some are accessible as museums. Close to Leek, one of these estates is Borg Nienoord. The original borg (a type of fortified castle) was constructed in 1525, but sadly burnt down in 1850. The current estate was constructed on its foundations in 1885 by the Van Panhuys family. Unfortunately, they were only able to enjoy their estate for 22 years; they died following a tragic carriage accident. They drowned in the Hoendiep canal. The borg is presently home to the National Rijtuigmuseum (“National Carriage Museum”). Family Park Nienoord is also located nearby. Swimming pool Het Zwemkasteel is a lovely place to enjoy your leisure time. Various model railway tracks can also be viewed here.
• From Leek, you cycle again through nature reserve De Onlanden. Natuurmonumenten (The Netherland’s Society for the Preservation of Nature) keeps De Onlanden open by mowing the area. Large grazers, such as Exmoor ponies and Scottish Highlanders, assist in doing so by grazing on the land. The many swamp birds in the area profit from the high water level in the area. The region’s relative safeness as a living and breeding ground allows them to raise their offspring here in spring. De Onlanden offers a unique experience of nature close to the city Groningen.
• Still regularly in operation, an eye-catching feature in Rolderwolde is the large windmill from 1852, Woldzigt. The mill is used to mill grain and crush oil. Special events are still regularly organised around Woldzigt.
• From Roderwolde, continue the Lakes and Meadows Route back toward Peize, the end point of this cycling route.