Lippenhuizerheide

Wet heathland, with many fens and peat bogs: the attractive Lippenhuisterheide is the second largest heath area in Friesland. The ditches and ditches that cut through the heath indicate that the area was once peaty. There is also some dry heathland, but the area is still mostly wet. This results in a special fauna: reptiles such as vipers and grass snakes like to lie on the sunny paths, but also viviparous lizards and the moor frog have a great time here. The snipe, wheatear, gray shrike and curlew like to nest on the heath and the crane and white-tailed eagle are also tempted to breed here. Special plants such as orchids adorn the paths while the cheerful heather blues flutter from flower to flower. It's wonderful to be able to sink your teeth into a juicy apple while cycling under the sun over the warm moors, or to drink a refreshing sip of water while taking a break at one of the fens. When you get to Hemrik, you will see a beautiful bell chair at the white church in the village. The chair was built in 1739, but the bell was cast much earlier, namely in 1495. The massive bell has a diameter of almost one meter and weighs no less than 560 kilograms. The bell is rung at church services, funerals, New Year's Eve and daily at 12:00 PM. In Weinterp you can see the largest bell tower in Friesland. The chair was built in 1723. It has no less than three bells, which is very special for a bell chair. This also ensures that ringing this bell, which is done by hand, requires a lot of practice. This way of ringing dates back to the Middle Ages and is almost non-existent in the Netherlands. Incidentally, the bells were cast again after the war, in 1948. They all have different dimensions, with the heaviest weighing no less than 867 kilos. The bells only ring during services, 5 minutes before they start. The third bell tower on the route is still relatively young. This was built around the 20th century, judging by the architectural style and the carved oak. Over the years, the bell tower has been increasingly hidden from view. It has been a national monument since its restoration in 1977. Near Beesterzwaag is the Lauswolt estate, which was named after the original owners. This family owned several farms. A stately mansion was built on this estate in 1867, which was later turned into a hotel that was sold to the Bilderberg group in 1990. In 2007, the cabinet formation took place in the stately building, which had no political value before that. When you return to the starting point of the route, you can still do your shopping in the supermarket so that you can cook delicious homely meals at home in the evening. This way you can have a nice meal at your own dining table and enjoy the best that this Frisian region has to offer.