National Landscape The Frisian Woods

Alder canals, ponds, wooded banks, sandy paths and atmospheric cobbled roads: the national landscape De Friese Wouden or De Noardlike Fryske Walden is characterized by a soft small scale. While progress turned the Netherlands into industrial areas in many places, this area remained relatively untouched. Here you can see how people lived in the Middle Ages. Characteristic are the wooded banks, which divide the landscape as partitions, but also the fact that arable farming did not take place on a large scale here, but that people provided for their own needs and conducted a lot of small-scale barter trade, is also reflected in the attractive appearance of the landscape. The region not only has great cultural value, but also a wealth of information is available from a geological point of view. The many puddles in the area are remnants of pingos from the Ice Age. The beautiful residential tower'De Schierstins\\\' is also on the route. The castle was built from brick at the beginning of the 14th century and is the only remaining castle in Friesland. The building has been expanded several times after it came into the hands of private individuals. By 1814 the tower had two extensions and a summer house, a coach house, an orchard and a park had also been built around the complex. At the end of that century, the Schierstins became so dilapidated that it was almost demolished. The Frisian Society prevented this by restoring the building in 1906. Later a museum was established in the complex and after that it served as a cultural center. There is an exhibition space on the top floor.