Submerged villages

Much of Groningen’s remarkable past lies buried beneath a thick layer of clay. The Veldatlas guide reveals the most remarkable moments in the province’s history. During your walk or cycle ride, you’ll hear, see and read about significant events that took place right where you are standing at that moment – events that have shaped Groningen into what it is today.

At present, the Veldatlas team is still hard at work collecting all the stories and developing the platform. The first story they are working on is that of the Drowned Villages.

Drowned Villages Route
Once reclaimed, then flooded and reclaimed once more, the remains of a number of medieval villages lie beneath a thick layer of clay and peat in what is now Oldambt and the Dollard. The walking routes through the five Oldambt villages have these ‘drowned villages’ as their theme. The walking route highlights these sites. The five Oldambt villages are Beerta, Nieuw Beerta, Hongerige Wolf, Drieborg and Bad Nieuweschans. The associated drowned villages include Veenhuisen, Wyndeham, Palmar (monastery), Reiderwolde and Houwingaham.

Beerta, between sand and marsh
‘Between sand and marsh’ suggests you’ll be walking through an impenetrable part of Groningen. Traditionally, Beerta has been a genteel village with plenty of greenery, stately farmhouses and neat middle-class homes. It was a charming little place. In fact, people had never before seen so many beautiful homes in one place. So it’s hardly surprising that this was once the home of a nobleman and that a stark contrast developed between the wealthy farmers and the farm labourers.

Routes:

Beerta Walk – 6.2 km
Ommetje Om de Tjamme – 7.4 km
Beertsterplas walk – 8.9 km

Starting point: 't Speulparadies, Buitenlandenstraat 5, Beerta

Nieuw Beerta: hidden history in a changing landscape
Nieuw Beerta was once one of the wealthiest villages in the province, where names such as ‘Landjuweel’ and ‘Bloeie de Landbouw’ proudly adorned the façades of large manor farms. There was no sign of the tragedy that unfolded here in the 16th century. For this beautiful and, at the time, distinguished little village was built on the site of a submerged village.

Route:

Nieuw Beerta Walk – 5.2 km, with an optional 3 km extension.

Starting point: Kerk Nieuw Beerta, Hoofdweg 18, Nieuw Beerta

Ganzedijk, a breath of fresh air on the dyke
The hamlets of Ganzedijk and Hongerige Wolf. Ganzedijk is known for its spirited residents, whilst the idyllic Hongerige Wolf is famous for its popular festival of the same name. And did you know that many artists have also visited this little place to find inspiration? High time for a stroll.

Route:

Ganzedijk–Hongerige Wolf walk – 4.9 km

Starting point: Community Centre, Ganzedijk 42, Finsterwolde

Drieborg, a village built on a dyke
Although the title might suggest otherwise, Drieborg is not a ‘drowned village’. It was built in the land of the drowned villages, in the former municipality of Reiderland in the region of the same name. This took place around a hundred years after the flood. If you visit Drieborg, don’t forget to take a moment to enjoy the fresh air on the dyke. From here, you’ll have a good view of the Kroonpolder and the Stadspolder.

Route:

Drieborg walks – 5.8 km; the shortened route is 4.0 km.

Starting point: Drieborg: Noorderlicht, Oudedijk 8a, Drieborg

The Splendour of Bad Nieuweschans
This settlement village, with a population of 1,342, is the easternmost town in the Netherlands and is home to the country’s oldest spa resort. You can also admire 47 listed buildings here. In 1974, Bad Nieuweschans was rightly designated a protected village landscape. The village was founded in 1628, long after the great Dollard flood of 1509. But why, then, is Bad Nieuweschans part of the ‘Drowned Villages Route’?

Route:

Bos Houwingaham walk – 6.1 km.
Oudezijl Walk – 3.6 km.
Nieuweschanskerbos walk – 4.8 km.
Oostpunt Walk – 5.1 km.

Starting point: On the corner of Europaweg by the water, near the Bad Nieuweschans skyline

Don’t miss a thing in Groningen