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Route 13: Across the Esch Vlagtwedde

2 hours 40 minutes (12 km)

On this route, you’ll walk through the ash groves around Vlagtwedde and along the Ruiten Aa stream valley. This route is 11 kilometres long.

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A walk through the ash groves around Vlagtwedde and through the Ruiten Aa stream valley clearly illustrates the contrasts in this landscape. On the one hand…

A walk along the ash trees around Vlagtwedde and through the Ruiten Aa stream valley clearly illustrates the contrasts in this landscape. On the one hand, the dead straight Mussel Aa canal, linked to the history of peat extraction; and on the other, ancient sand ridges, woods and flower-filled grasslands along the Ruiten Aa. On the banks of this little river lies the old hamlet of Smeerling, which consists of a group of beautifully restored Saxon (also known as Westerwold) farmhouses. It is a listed village and the 17th- and 18th-century farmhouses are listed buildings. Saxon farmhouses originally housed people, animals and the harvest all under one roof. In the farmhouse that Natuurmonumenten uses as a tea room, you can admire the ingenious load-bearing beam structure. After Smeerling, you walk through the stream valley of the Ruiten Aa and the Metbroekbos. Cattle of an old Dutch breed, the Lakenvelders (a white patch lies like a sheet across their backs), graze on parts of the woodland and the adjacent Eemboerveld. The cows and their calves are friendly towards people. The Metbroekbos, managed by Natuurmonumenten, is one of the few original forests in Westerwolde. It consists of marshy, loamy soil, predominantly home to native tree species such as oak, hazel, holly, alder, willow and beech. In the undergrowth you’ll find lily of the valley, wood anemone, Solomon’s seal, Swedish dogwood, musk mallow and ragged robin, whilst birds such as the spotted woodpecker, golden oriole and buzzard can be seen soaring between sky and earth. Natuurmonumenten inherited the woodland, along with the Lieftinghsbroek, from private conservationists.

Next, you’ll walk into Vlagtwedde. Vlagtwedde, Sellingen, Onstwedde, Wedde and Vriescheloo are the five church villages, or ‘karspelen’, which together form Westerwolde. Around Vlagtwedde, scattered villages such as Veele, Wollinghuizen, Jipsinghuizen, Weende and Ellersinghuizen sprang up, along with numerous hamlets that take their names from old field names. Surrounding Vlagtwedde lay the common lands, which were divided, managed and used under the authority of the collective, the ‘Boerschap’. The farming community also had its own system of justice (farmers’ judges). Until 1803, a court was established in Vlagtwedde, where the ‘judge’ heard cases based on the land law of Westerwolde. Appeals could be lodged with the drost in Wedde.

The walk takes you past the Dutch Reformed Church (point 20), one of the largest churches in Westerwolde. The nave, with its ribbed vault, dates from the second half of the thirteenth century, whilst the chancel dates from the sixteenth century. The forest path (point 22) runs alongside the Veelerdiep, a branch of the Ruiten Aa, which rejoins the main stream north of Vlagtwedde. Only its meandering course distinguishes this little watercourse from an ordinary ditch. Finally, the walk passes Parc Emslandermeer, a recreational bungalow park which helps to boost the region’s economy.

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This is a route of the Stichting Wandelen in Westerwolde , sponsored by Huisartsenpraktijk Postma and Bungalowpark Emslandermeer.

General Practitioner Postma
Dr.P.Rinsemastraat 1
9541 AL Vlagtwedde
Tel 0599 217000
https://huisartsenpraktijkpostma.nl

Bungalowpark Emslandermeer
Bungalowpark Emslandermeer, 2 to 20 person comfort & luxury wellness bungalows with outdoor Jacuzzi, sauna etc, also with tour boat Hanzeschouw or Whaly. Free access to sub-tropical swimming paradise with slide, children's pool, sauna etc. Relax at the park with fishing in the inland lakes, water sports, canoes & pedal boats, playgrounds and of course walking and cycling in the nature-rich Westerwolde. In short, unlimited activity and relaxation possibilities.
http://www.bungalowpark-emslandermeer.nl