Day trip by bike to Winsum

The trip really begins when you cross the Walfridus Bridge. From the bridge you have a beautiful view over the Starkenborgh canal and who knows, one of the cargo ships might just pass you. Look back once more to see the contours of the city nicely before you start your way. A dead straight, asphalted cycle highway towards Winsum. Despite its simplicity, the path is anything but boring. Left and right, sheep greet you languidly from the grass, birds circle above your head and the smell of freshly cut grass (and the occasional whiff of manure) fills your lungs with the true feeling of the outdoors.

After pedalling for just under five kilometres, Adorp appears on the horizon. A charming village with just 550 inhabitants, but rich in character. The Aeolus windmill towers proudly above the landscape. Named after the wind god, it has been a landmark since 1851. Almost every weekend, this piece of Groningen's heritage is open. Want to be sure? When the sails are turning and the flag is flying, you can visit the mill. For a delicious rum, this is also the right place. You'll find Grondel Distillery in Adorp. Honest products - and you can taste that! At Grondel Distillery, they ferment, distil and mature the rum themselves. When the rum is ready, they also bottle it themselves. Not to be missed is Adorp's medieval church, located on an ancient mound and open daily. Although its Romanesque character has largely disappeared when it was rebuilt in 1667, this building still exudes history. Did you know that the bell from 1618 proudly adorns the roof today?

Halfway along the route, you reach Sauwerd, a larger village with its own harbour, a characteristic wierdekerk and a special village shop. Here you can taste the province - literally. From fresh honey to artisanal cakes: the Dorpswinkel Sauwerd is a tasty stopover. Also handy: from here you can stap on the train in no time, in the direction of Winsum or back to the city. Fancy a diversion? Klein-Wetsinge is just around the corner and more than worth the detour.

A path with pollard willows connects Klein-Wetsinge with Groot-Wetsinge. Your eyes do not deceive you: Klein-Wetsinge is indeed bigger than Groot-Wetsinge. This is because 'big' means 'high' and Groot-Wetsinge is located on a mound, a man-made residential hill. Klein-Wetsinge 's church is an ideal place for a break with a bite to eat and a drink. The small hall church was built in 1840 to replace the dilapidated and demolished medieval churches of Wetsinge and Sauwerd, as evidenced by its gable stone. The molen de Wetsinger was built in 1872 and still stands proudly. The mill's name is unknown from the past. However, to bring the mill back to its nearby surroundings, a new name 'De Wetsinger' was chosen by the Winsum Windmill Foundation. The mill has carried this since 2016.

And then: your final destination. As soon as the flags of the fire station appear, you know you're there. Winsum is not just any village, it was voted the most beautiful in the Netherlands. Discover the story of Winsum with the podwalk, taste fresh fish at De Visscherij or take a seat at Herberg De Gouden Karper - the oldest inn in our country. Feel like fine dining? Bistro Refter surprises you with French finesse. Also check out the Moi Winsum page for even more tips and hidden gems.