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FERRY-HIKING ROUTE OUDEGAASTER BREKKEN

(14.5 km)

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A sizeable breezy hiking tour around the waters of the beautiful Oudegaaster Brekken, crossing the water by ferryboat along the way.

Mini village

Your walk starts in the age-old mini village of Nijhuizum. Here you’ll find Friesland’s smallest church, a simple building dating from 1721 and not even connected to mains electricity, surrounded by an old churchyard. Walking along the Nijhuizumervaart canal, you head for the ferry managed by the Renema family. At the given times, they will transport you safely ‘droech oer de feart’, which translates as keeping your feet dry over the canal, and charge you one Euro to do so.

Surrounded by grasslands 

Surrounded by grasslands, w…

Simple navigation
Download the route in Google Maps

A sizeable breezy hiking tour around the waters of the beautiful Oudegaaster Brekken, crossing the water by ferryboat along the way.

Mini village

Your walk starts in the age-old mini village of Nijhuizum. Here you’ll find Friesland’s smallest church, a simple building dating from 1721 and not even connected to mains electricity, surrounded by an old churchyard. Walking along the Nijhuizumervaart canal, you head for the ferry managed by the Renema family. At the given times, they will transport you safely ‘droech oer de feart’, which translates as keeping your feet dry over the canal, and charge you one Euro to do so.

Surrounded by grasslands 

Surrounded by grasslands, wander along the Keapwei towards Gaastmeer Lake. Just before Gaastmeer, in Kleine Gaastmeer, turn left towards Oudega. You are now on the Feandyk, a low-lying road which was regularly flooded in days gone by. At the Idzega junction, the Feandyk becomes the Tsjerkewei, taking you straight to the church of water sports village Oudega SWF. 

Coffee break

Oudega is the ideal spot for a tea or coffee break at a waterside café, and there’s a village shop as well. Continue along towards Blauwhuis and after Swimplak de Aldegeaster Brekken (with public toilets), turn left onto the cycle path towards Doris Mooltsje, the black windmill dating from 1780. You’ll have magnificent views over the water from this point. 

Bird Walhalla

Continue on with the Oudegaaster Brekken to your left and De Ryp nature reserve on your right. There are so many birds to be seen here! In autumn and winter, it’s a cacophony of geese, and spring sees meadow birds such as godwits, lapwings and oystercatchers foraging here. 

The finish

On merging back onto the road after a few kilometres, turn left. You’ll pass a number of farms and Nijhuizum Windmill. A few hundred metres further on and you’ll find yourself back in Nijhuizum centre and the end of your hike. Workum is just around the corner and is one of the a lovely eleven Frisian cities to enjoy a well earned lunch or dinner.

Is walking not your thing? This route can also be enjoyed by bike or on rollerblades.

Sights on this route

Starting point: Nummer 7
8775 Nijhuizum
1

Nijhúzumer Tsjerke

De kerk van Nijhuizum is de kleinste van Friesland, in 1721 opgetrokken uit de restanten van een ouder gebouw. Het is een bescheiden kerkje met een kerktoren en een eenvoudig interieur.

Nijhúzumer Tsjerke achterzijde kerkje Nijhuizum
40
2

Veerpont Droech oer de feart (Nijhuizum)

Op zaterdag en zondag in maart is de pont geopend van 11.00 tot 16.00 uur. Voor de maanden april, mei en september is de pont elke dag van de week geopend van 9.00 tot 12.30 uur (op zondag vanaf 11.00...

Veerpont Droech oer de feart (Nijhuizum) Passagiers worden naar de overkant gevaren
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Oudega

Oudega is a cozy village situated on the Oudegaaster Brekken.

Visit Oudega

Oudega
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4

Ankertsjerke Oudega SWF

Central in the originally medieval water village of Oudega, you will find the Ankertsjerke. Situated on a small enclosed cemetery right along the east-west axis along which the village originated. A lush ivy adorns the south facade in a thick green coat.

Ankertsjerke Oudega SWF De Ankertsjerke vanuit de lucht
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Zwemgelegenheid in Oudega

Zwemgelegenheid in Oudega
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6

Molen Doris Mooltsje

Molen Doris Mooltsje
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7

Aldegeaster Brekken

The water of the Aldegeaster Brekken is located close to the village of Oudega SWF.

Aldegeaster Brekken Aldegeaster Brekken
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Mûntsebuorsterpolder

In het voorjaar is het topdrukte in de Mûntsebuorsterpolder. De grote aantallen kleine rietganzen maken dan plaats voor de weidevogels. Onze nationale vogel de grutto en de tureluur met zijn lange...

Mûntsebuorsterpolder
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Monnikenburenmolen / Nijhuizumermolen

Spinnekopmolen vlakbij Nijhuizum en wordt ingezet als poldermolen.

Monnikenburenmolen / Nijhuizumermolen
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End point: Nummer 7
8775 Nijhuizum

Directions

Starting point: Nummer 7
8775 Nijhuizum

* Park in Nijhuizum
* take the cycle path along the canal to the ferry
* cross De Grons water by ferry
* take the road to Gaastmeer
* at the crossroads in Klein Gaastmeer, turn left
* walk towards Oudega SWF
* after the bridge in Oudega SWF, turn left 
* head out of the village towards Blauwhuis
* take the cycle path towards Workum
* go to the end of the cycle path where it meets the road, and turn left
* at the end of this road, you’ll be back in Nijhuizum!

End point: Nummer 7
8775 Nijhuizum
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