Tour of Delfzijl

Our cycling tour starts in the fortress town of Delfzijl. The name of this place comes from Zijl (sluice) and the Delf (original name of Damsterdiep). The place was founded in the thirteenth century when a lock was built in the Delf. On July 25, 1568, Delfzijl was visited by Alva. He saw its strategic significance and made plans to turn it into a large fortress. The port of Delfzijl was already mentioned in various maritime texts in the 16th century. In 1665, Michiel de Ruyter entered the port of Delfzijl with the West Indian fleet and thirty captured ships. You cycle a large part of this route along the Eems. This river flows through the northwest of Germany, originates in Senne in Germany and flows into the North Sea via the Dollard and the Wadden Sea. The route leaves the banks of the Eems at Hoogwatum and you drive via Bierum to the town of Spijk. This settlement belongs to the group of the oldest settlements in the North Groningen sea clay area. This arose in the period after the ice ages due to tidal action in combination with the gradually decreasing rise in sea level. In the village of Spijk you will find the Ceres corn and peel mill. The mill was built in 1839. The mill is unique in terms of design and is used as a teaching mill for peeling. The mill is currently owned by the Groninger Landscape Foundation. Appingedam grew into an important trade and market center due to its favorable location on the Delf. Trade was conducted with Northern Germany, the Baltic Sea area, Scandinavia and Westphalia. The growth of the city was also evident from the growth of the Nicholas Church, which, as it were, grew along with the city during this period. In 1514 Appingedam was captured by George of Saxony. The population was massacred. Nowadays Appingedam still looks unmistakably like a town. In the center you can still admire many originally medieval buildings. The most famous sights are three hanging kitchens and the narrow bridges above the Damsterdiep. During this cycle route we also pass a number of old Groningen Churches. The Old Groningen Churches Foundation is committed to the material and functional preservation of the monumental Groningen churches and their surroundings. Material and functionality go hand in hand. Because old Groningen churches are not only valuable historical buildings, they have also traditionally been places of meeting. The old churches that we encounter during this cycle route are: St. Pancratius Church, Reformed, Synagogue and Solwerd Church. In the column opposite you will find the key address of these churches where you can go to visit the church.