Route 3: Driestromenland Wedde
On this route, you’ll walk along the ‘ Burcht Wedde ’ and the Westerwoldse Aa. This route is 6.5 kilometres long. Please note: The castle grounds close daily at 5.00 pm.
The castle is a story in itself. It was first built around 1361 by Egge Addinga, who fled the Marcellus flood in the Reiderland. The Addi...
The castle is a story in itself. It was first built around 1361 by Egge Addinga, who fled the Marcellus flood in Reiderland. The Addingas ran a reign of terror and Egge I was murdered by Westerwoldigers in 1391. Relations between the population and the Addingas remained difficult and, consequently, Egge II was lynched by an angry mob right in front of his castle in 1475. After that, drostees inhabited the house and justice was administered there. At the end of the 16th century, a series of witch trials were held there, which brought 19 women to the stake. Shortly afterwards, the city of Groningen bought the seigniory of Westerwolde, including Wedde. For a hundred and eighty years, the city retained its rights. Meanwhile, the castle was fortified into a real fortress. That did not stop the bishop of Münster, Bernard van Galen, from conquering it in 1665 and burning down half the village. In 1828, the council of Groningen decided to have the house in Wedde demolished, and so it would have happened if notary Koning from Bellingwolde had not bought the property.
Due to all the renovations – some voluntary, some not – little remains of the original castle: only the cellar of the south wing still dates from the fourteenth century. The restoration of the Burcht was completed in 2012. The Burcht now houses a children’s hotel for disadvantaged children.
The ‘Driestromenland’ walk could just as easily be called ‘Vierstromenland’. At point 9, the Veelerdiep and the Ruiten Aa converge. Just past the Engelkensbrug (point 12), the Mussel Aa and the Ruiten Aa converge. South of Vlagwedde (near Ellersinghuizen), the Veelerdiep branches off from the Ruiten Aa and flows through the built-up area of Vlagwedde.
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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
Here’s what you’ll see
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Starting point:
Car park at the village hall ‘De Voortgang’
Kerkstraat 10
9698 AR Wedde
Navigate to the starting point -
End point:
Car park at the village hall ‘De Voortgang’
Kerkstraat 10
9698 AR Wedde
Navigate to end point
Features
Walking
- Dogs must be kept on a lead Yes
Tour/Route
- Explanatory season: The banks of the Westerwoldse Aa can be very wet in some seasons; wearing waterproof footwear is recommended.
- Tagged: Yes
- Explanatory marking: Yellow and white stickers with imprint WIW 3
- Route features: From A to A