Route 8: De Lethe Bellingwolde

On a walk through and around Bellingwolde, the nineteenth-century contrasts between the immense wealth of the grain farmers and the poverty of their labourers are still visible, even though many a former labourer’s cottage has been transformed into a small mansion.
The stately, sometimes richly decorated farmhouses of the Oldambt farms line the main road. They were built in the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when grain prices were high and the first agricultural mechanisation (the steam threshing machine) was introduced.
The trees planted in those days are now magnificent green monuments.

The walking route follows the direction of the plots towards the south-east. After passing the B.L. Tijdenskanaal, the walk continues through De Lethe, an area managed by Staatsbosbeheer featuring long, straight rows of trees.
The name refers to the border river that once separated Westerwolde from our eastern neighbours. In the past, farm labourers lived here, just as they did along other long avenues behind the manor farms.

Walking back towards the canal, you’ll pass two old fortifications, the Redoute and the Flèche. They were built during the French period and restored in 1985.
Immediately after passing the Flèche, you’ll see a small patch of authentic raised bog on your left.

In 2021, a cross-border ecological corridor was established between the nature reserves of the Lethe in Westerwolde and the Brualer Schloot in the Eems region. Protected species such as the otter, grass snake and various bat species can now move more easily between Germany and the Netherlands. This cross-border project therefore represents a significant b oost to biodiversity.
The province of Groningen, together with other authorities, has invested heavily in recent years in the creation and enhancement of nature reserves around the Ruiten Aa and the Westerwoldse Aa. From the Dollard to Bargerveen in Drenthe, there is now an almost unbroken ribbon of nature. Until now, there had been no connection between the German and Dutch ecological
oost . This hindered the ecological functioning of both systems. With the creation of the ecological corridor between Westerwolde and the Eems, a continuous ribbon of water-linked areas has been established. In addition to moving from north to south, protected animal species will soon also be able to
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This is a route of the Walking in Westerwolde Foundation. You can still sign up as a sponsor for this route. Mail to info@wandeleninwesterwolde.nl