As a hiker, Groningen is the place to be. Using beautiful routes, you will discover the diversity the province has to offer. Follow the posts over towpaths and old trade routes. Stroll along the grand coast and centuries of architecture. There is plenty to discover, for both the experienced hiker and the starter.
Pronkjewailpad
Take a peek inside that striking church. Sample that authentic mustard. Take a bite of one of those old Groningen apple varieties. Groningen is brimming with enticing sights and businesses. For walkers on the Pronkjewailpad – which stretches for hundreds of kilometres – every door is thrown wide open. Wherever you go, you’ll see, hear, feel and taste the province’s hospitality.
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Knuppelpad Roegwold
It is perhaps one of the most photographed spots in Groningen’s countryside: the Knuppelpad in the ’t Roegwold nature reserve (a rugged marsh forest). The Knuppelpad is a 750-metre wooden boardwalk cutting straight through the marshland of ’t Roegwold. Around 6,000 years ago, this was still woodland; now it is a marsh. Tree stumps protrude above the water here and there.
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Mudflat walking
You take a stap forward with your right foot, but your left foot gets stuck in the mud. Your legs turn out to be black right up to your knees. You’d much rather look straight ahead, towards the horizon, which consists of nothing but sea and sandbanks. You’re walking on the seabed. Mudflat walking is a unique experience you’ll never forget.
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Voorland Groningen
Walking through Groningen is like walking through the Anthropocene, the current era in which humankind leaves its mark everywhere. Nowhere in the Netherlands is this as visible as it is here. Groningen is our ‘voorland’. ‘Voorland’ is both a place and a time. It is the land in front of the dyke, and it is also the future that you can already sense, but which we have not yet reached. Join us on a walk through Groningen’s centuries-old cultural landscape and discover together the future that lies ahead.
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Melle’s Path
In the past, Melle and his wife Lamke ran a small farm at the back of the Peebos, with a few cows and some potatoes on a couple of hectares. When they stopped farming, their land was transferred to Staatsbosbeheer, which created a number of lovely walking routes there. Walk amongst the beautiful wild flowers and stap your feet into the mud.
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Slochterbos
Behind the Fraeylemaborg estate lies a forest full of surprises. You can park your car or cycle at the manor, after which you continue on foot along a forest path of almost 1.3 kilometres. A walk in the Slochterbos is well worth it in every season. In spring and summer, countless species of birds sing to you. In autumn, you’ll find many types of mushrooms and a stunning variety of colours. You can take a break or enjoy the sandwiches you’ve brought from home on one of the many benches scattered throughout the park.
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Pieterpad
Want to walk the length of the Netherlands? It starts (or ends) in Pieterburen, Groningen. The Pieterpad takes you on a walk of almost 500 kilometres to the Sint-Pietersberg in Maastricht. Or simply walk one (or more) of the three Groningen stages to explore the province. We don’t insist you head all the way to Limburg; staying here is just as lovely.
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Wadden Food Routes
The countryside, the mudflats and the water provide authentic local produce. On the Wadden Food cycling and walking routes, you’ll discover local fisheries, regional produce, nature and a diverse landscape. Waddengoud has developed these routes in collaboration with local businesses. These are businesses that carry the Waddengoud quality mark, as they produce their regional specialities locally and sustainably. This way, you can enjoy all the beauty along the Groningen Wadden Sea coast and always return home with a tasty treat from the region.
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Pilgrimage
In the province of Groningen, you’ll find everything associated with pilgrimage. With 130 medieval churches, 75 nature reserves, 90 km of coastline, 20 borgen and 34 former monastery sites, there’s plenty to discover. Set off and, as you walk, discover everything about the province’s cultural history, landscape and nature. Pilgrimage is more than just walking.
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Smeerling Routes
In and around the hamlet of Smeerling, you can enjoy wonderful walks through the ancient Metbroekbos. And don’t forget to look around you as you go, as there are a number of beautiful, authentic local farmhouses from the 18th and 19th centuries lining the footpaths. A lovely place to start your walk is Gasterij Natuurlijk Smeerling, housed in one such restored Westerwold farmhouse. From here, you can walk straight into the valley of the Ruiten Aa, one of the most beautiful stream valleys in the Netherlands. It’s still truly peaceful here – an unparalleled luxury.
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Podwalk through Winsum
Centuries ago, there was a large monastery in the centre of Winsum, where monks and noblemen used to walk the streets. Traces of this history are still visible in the village. During the walk, you’ll be given directions on which way to go to discover the village’s cultural history.
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Routebureau Groningen
Need a different route or want to decide which way to go? Then take a look at the Routebureau Groningen. There you will find even more beautiful routes through the province and you can easily put together your own route using the junction network. There is something for everyone.
