The Ziltepad
Pilgrimage along the rugged edge of the north
On Groningen's Wadden coast, Het Ziltepad takes you past characteristic villages and right through nature. On a path connected by centuries-old churches, the long-distance route runs from the tip of North Holland from Den Helder to Termunten in Groningen. Over 400 kilometres along the rugged edge of the north. Of the 22 stages that make up the route, five are in Groningen. The stages are between 15 and 25 kilometres long and can be completed by bicycle or on foot. Download the special route booklets, let yourself be guided by the church towers that rise like beacons above the landscape and take a look inside the churches: the doors are open to you.
From church to church
There are several ways you can follow The Salty Trail. The whole route is divided into stages that all start at different churches. These stages make the trip more manageable; you can divide the Ziltepad into sections this way. The churches along the route are all accessible. In winter, the churches can be visited by picking up the key at the key address, as listed next to the church door. Three guides are available in the churches for you: an inspiration and meditation guide, the Ziltepad Menu Guide for local products and the Ziltepad route guide. There is also a stamp booklet, with which you can collect a new stamp at each church. Spending the night can be done in cosy hotels and B&Bs, at a villager's home, or like a real pilgrim in the church. Besides the stages, there are also general circular walks around the site of the stage.
" 'Only where you've been on foot, you've really been' "
The Groningen stages
Vierhuizen | Stage 15
Circular walk 13.7 km | To Lauwersoog (19.1 km) or Hornhuizen (11.2 km) | Next to the old pastorie, which now serves as a B&B, the church of Vierhuizen stands showing off atop a mound. And that's just the starting point the routes in this area. Walk past ancient remains of drowned villages, over salt marsh banks and through the farmlands to Hornhuizen. See the beautiful nature at Lauwersoog or go to Houwerzijl to visit de Theefabriek.
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Hornhuizen | Stage 16
Circular walk 14 km | To Vierhuizen (11.2 km) or Pieterburen (13.9 km) | A glance at the map reveals that there is something crazy about the roads and villages in northern Groningen. They lie neatly one after the other, like scales on a pine cone. The waves of the sea left their mark on the landscape. So too in Hornhuizen. With the yellow and red-painted lantern of the church tower at your back, follow the route to Kloosterburen, where the Nicolaaskerk stands on the foundations of an old monastery. Through the countryside, past farms and past dykes. Or go the other way, towards Pieterburen.
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Pieterburen | Stage 17
Circular walk 19.2 km | To Hornhuizen (13.9 km) or Usquert (15.7 km) | Besides the Seal Centre, bezoekerscentrum Waddenkust and the start or end point of the Pieterpad, Pieterburen is also home to the Petruskerk. The church owes its rich interior to prosperous Groningers of the time. The church is adjacent to the botanische tuin Domies Toen. From Pieterburen, the route takes you to Hornhuizen or Usquert. Along the way, you will encounter everything from the smallest seaport in the Netherlands to remnants of breached dykes.
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Usquert | Stage 18
Circular walk 15.4 km | To Pieterburen (15.7 km) or Uithuizermeeden (14.7 km) | If you breathe deeply in Usquert, you will smell the salty sea air. Not surprisingly, as this area with a long history of habitation lies directly by the sea, the fertile land did not go unnoticed. Over the years, manor houses were built here and landed gentry moved to the Hoogeland, and that prosperity shows. From country houses hidden in the greenery to villas with English winding gardens.
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Uithuizermeeden | Stage 19
Circular walk 14.7 km | To Usquert (14.7 km) | What started around 1200 with a few inhabited mounds grew into Uithuizermeeden. The Maria church is the starting point of the route. Because there was too little money to do large-scale maintenance, the church is almost a time machine. You'll feast your eyes. From here, you walk or cycle past the Meister tower, the Menkemaborg and maren, as the watercourses are called in Groningen. Whether you go via Uithuizen to Usquert or walk around via Oldenzijl, Zandeweer and Uithuizen, here you will encounter living history.
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