Strolling through a unique landscape
The Westerkwartier lies in the south-west of the province. It is a special region boasting the oldest cultural landscape in Europe. Winding roads, picturesque villages on hills and endless views. The Westerkwartier is perfect for a lovely cycle ride, but there’s plenty more to keep you entertained. Discover old borgen or even go on an ostrich safari. There’s plenty to do – are you coming along?
Waking up in the Netherlands’ oldest cultural landscape
Rub the sleep from your eyes and take a good look around. You may not notice it at first glance, but the longer you look, the more unique the landscape becomes. Winding ditches, villages on hills and endless distant views. You are in the middle of the National Landscape Middag-Humsterland, the oldest cultural landscape in the Netherlands. A beautiful area to discover by bike. View the landscape from the eye of art group De Ploeg, for example, with one of the De Ploeg cycle routes. Along the way, you will encounter the mound villages that characterise the landscape. These villages are situated on top of hills, so that in the past, when the land flooded, people still kept their feet dry. Ezinge is such a mound village, here you will find Museum Wierdenland where you can learn all about the history of Middag-Humsterland. At the highest point of the mound you will find the church with a small cemetery, turn on The Province podcast and learn more about it in 3 minutes.
A picturesque lunch
A little further on you will find Garnwerd. In this cosy village on the Reitdiep, it sometimes seems as if time has stood still. With a church, a mill and an authentic little bridge, the village actually has everything you could want. Did you know that here you will also find the smalste straatje van Nederland that you are allowed to drive through by car? Garnwerd is an ideal place to make a stopover. At Reitdiep you will find two restaurants where you can go for a delicious lunch. At Garnwerd aan Zee, children can have fun in the water and sand while parents watch from the terrace. On the other side of the bridge you will find the historic premises of Bij Hammingh. While looking out over the water, enjoy a delicious meal.
An active afternoon
Now that your belly is full again, you can get back to it for a whole afternoon. In and around Leek there is also a lot to do. On the outskirts of the village, for instance, is Borg Nienoord and its surrounding estate. Inside the stately building, you can discover how the Groninger nobility used to live and in the garden you can feast your eyes on de schelpengrot. On the estate you will also find the family park where children can really let off steam. Is the weather not so good? Then you can visit Posta7 in Tolbert, a village nearby. Inside, they have plenty of activities, from miniature golf to curling. Want to experience something really unique? Then you can even go on safari in the Westerkwartier. At ostrich farm Fam. W. De Kreij, in the village of Boerakker, you can go on a real ostrich safari. There you will learn everything about the largest ratites in the world.
Aan tafel
After a day full of adventures in the Western Quarter, it is time to sit down for dinner. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for that too. For example, lovers of fine dining can go to Herberg Onder de Linden in Aduard. The chefs here put their best foot forward every evening to put another surprising menu on the table, which is why they have a prestigious Michelin star. Prefer to imagine yourself in faraway places? Then come to the Eisseshof for an Indonesian meal. Lovers of history can also dine elaborately in the last farmborg in the Netherlands, the Piloersemaborg.
A special night out
When evening falls, it’s time to slip under the duvet. A perfect place for this is Landgoedboerderij Oosterheerdt in Leek. The historic farmhouse, built in 1884, is certainly worth a visit. The farmhouse is surrounded by grasslands grazed by various species of animals. Looking for a touch more luxury? Then they’ll pamper you to the full at In ’t Holt 1654 in the heart of Zuidhorn. Anyone who, after visiting the two previous ‘ borgen ’, would like to stay at a third ‘ ’ during their visit to the Westerkwartier can stay at the holiday home in the Coendersborg. Lying in your bed, you can look back on a day full of wonderful memories.
