Welcome to the Slochter Free State
The cycle route 'Welcome to the Slochter Free State' takes you to a made-up history in the 1980s. The route accompanies the book 'In de Slochter Vrijstaat'. You can cycle two loops of about 36 km each.
The cycle route 'Welcome to the Slochter Free State' takes you back to the 1980s. The route accompanies the book 'In de Slochter Vrijstaat', which describes what it would have been like in the municipality of Slochteren if an independent state had been declared in the 1960s, where all gas revenues were kept. While cycling, you tour this 'smallest and richest country' in the world where all the farms have been beautifully restored and skyscrapers reach to the sky. Along the way, you can hear audio fragments by journalist Jutta Koolhof (aka Auke Hulst), who visited the Free State in 1984 and reported on it in her book In de Slochter Vrijstaat. Along the route are images of the 'Battle of the Knijps Bridge' and the beautiful national park 'Het Ruige Land', among others. So you end up in a history where everything went just a little bit differently ...
The ro...
The cycle route 'Welcome to the Slochter Free State' takes you back to the 1980s. The route accompanies the book 'In de Slochter Vrijstaat', which describes what it would have been like in the municipality of Slochteren if an independent state had been declared in the 1960s, where all gas revenues were kept. While cycling, you tour this 'smallest and richest country' in the world where all the farms have been beautifully restored and skyscrapers reach to the sky. Along the way, you can hear audio fragments by journalist Jutta Koolhof (aka Auke Hulst), who visited the Free State in 1984 and reported on it in her book In de Slochter Vrijstaat. Along the route are images of the 'Battle of the Knijps Bridge' and the beautiful national park 'Het Ruige Land', among others. So you end up in a history where everything went just a little bit differently ...
The route goes through beautiful Slochteren, 't Roegwold and the surrounding villages. Let your imagination run wild and cycle past beautifully restored heritage and futuristic high-rises through a nature-rich agricultural landscape where land consolidation never took place and the occasional chauffeur-driven luxury Jaguar whizzes by ...
'Welcome to the Slochter Free State' is a collaboration between Noorderlicht and Ontdek Midden-Groningen.
The route consists of two loops.
Route A
- Distance: 32.8 km
- Number on Route.nl: 4288622
- Starting point: car park at Meubelhallen Kolham (Knijpslaan 182 in Kolham) or opposite at the fish stall
- Pause tips: Ecomotion and Rustpunt JoMilly Vintage Kolham, Rustpunt De Ei-Halte Sappemeer, Restaurant De Stenen Boog, Restaurant De Boerderij, Pannenkoekenschip De Volharding and Rustpunt Slochteren
- Cycling nodes: 33 - 9 - 14 - 48 - 12 - 71 - 31 - 87 - 46 - 39 - 36
Route B
- Distance: 36.5 km
- Type of route: cycle route
- Number on Route.nl: 4357424
- Starting point: Café De IJzeren Klap (Hamweg 126 in Lageland)
- Pause tips: Kaap Steendam and Paviljoen Boei12 Steendam, Dorpshuis De Pompel Overschild
- Cycling nodes: 42 - 41 - 43 - 45 - 15 - 13 - 30 - 52 - 51 - 50 - 78 - 26 - 22 - 53 - 49 - 16 - 42
Here’s what you’ll see
Restaurant de Boerderij Fraeylemaborg
Hoofdweg 289621 AL Slochteren
Description
Route A
Cycling nodes: 33 - 9 - 14 - 48 - 12 - 71 - 31 - 87 - 46 - 39 - 36
Largely, the route follows the above cycle junctions, but deviates at a few points:
- Cycle from the car park at Meubelhallen Kolham via Knijpslaan under the motorway to the cycle path along Rijksweg West. Turn left and turn left at the roundabout near the Knijps bridge. Cycle under the motorway again and turn right before the P&R into Rijksweg Oost
- Turn left 700 metres after farmer Boon's barn into Verlengde Winkelhoek and continue cycling along Achterdiep to junction 33
- After junction 14, cycle more or less straight ahead into the Baggerputten at the T-junction. Cycling is allowed here, although it is not indicated on the signs. Turn left before the house, turn right at the end of the path and cycle via Stichtinglaan to the Main Road
- After junction 87, turn left at the Slochtermeenteweg and then right through Denmark to the Slochterdiep
- Cycle after junction 46 from the Groenedijk near Molen de Ruiten, turn right into the Kooiweg and turn left at the junction onto the cycle path
- Turn left at junction 36 onto Hoofdweg and turn right before the Provincialeweg into Knijpslaan to the starting point
Route B
Cycling nodes: 42 - 41 - 43 - 45 - 15 - 13 - 30 - 52 - 51 - 50 - 78 - 26 - 22 - 53 - 49 - 16 - 42
Largely, the route follows the above cycle junctions, but deviates at a few points:
- After junction 41, cycle left at the junction onto Woudbloemlaan. Keep right at the junction at the entrance to the village. Cycle on to the Scharmer Ae and turn left
- After junction 15, turn left at the junction cycle path - Slochtermeenteweg to junction 13
Features
Tour/Route
- Comment starting point: You can start anywhere along the route.
- Administrator's name: Discover Midden-Groningen
- Explanatory marking: Along the way hang QR codes with listening fragments
Cycling
- E-bike Yes
- Mountain bike Yes
- Road bike Yes
- Tour Bike Yes
Also nice to do
https://ontdekmiddengroningen.nl/slochtervrijstaat/