Pieterburen, Uithuizen and Warffum

Picturesque towns, mounds and a beautiful polder landscape. This region in the north of Groningen is sparsely populated, so you can enjoy cycling here in peace and quiet among the grassy meadows. You visit the famous Pieterburen, which you know from the seal sanctuary. Avid hikers know that the Pieterpad, a walking route that runs all the way to the southernmost tip of the Netherlands, starts here, but the Gothic St. Peter's Church is also beautiful to visit. In addition, the region is rich in mound villages. The town of Warffum, through which this route passes, is a protected village sight and, with a height of six meters, is one of the highest mounds in the province. It is therefore not surprising that this region attracts a large number of tourists. You can park your car for free at the Spelt - Project in Pieterburen. The spelled project has been running since 1997 and supplies organic ancient grain. Various products are made from this so-called spelled, Oberkulmer Rotkorn, that you can buy here. Pancake flour, special whiskey, spelled butter cookies and spelled pillows, for example. Since spelled is at the top of the list of foods that increase the body's natural resistance and stimulate the immune system, it is of course very healthy. Once you have bought something tasty for the road at this starting point of the route, you start the long cycling tour of 52 kilometers. After enjoying the Groningen landscape thirty kilometers, you will arrive at a deposit in Uithuizermeeden. This Rensuma was built around 1500, but in 1695 the borg came into the possession of a family who gave it its current appearance in 1710. After economic hardship, the deposit was sold in 1829 and lost its function as a residential home. The deposit subsequently served as a horticultural school for a long time. In 1996, the Rensuma Boon Foundation purchased the deposit and restored it to its original state. The deposit itself cannot be visited, but the grounds are freely accessible. Another beautiful borg that you will encounter is the Menkemaborg. The current Groningen castle was built around 1400. As the name suggests, this castle was owned by the Menkema family. In 1614, Osebrandt Clant, who was now the owner, renovated the rectangular building. He had a large part added to it, so that the building had a beautiful open U-shape. In 1682 the deposit came into the possession of the Alberda van Menkema family, who renovated the deposit for the second time around 1700. After the death of the last resident in 1902, the deposit became vacant. In 1921 the deposit was donated to the Groninger Museum. The small village of Usquert is a typical example of a mound village. With approximately 1300 inhabitants, it is the northernmost mound on the eastern bank of the Fivelboezem. Don't forget to admire the former town hall of Usquert, built in 1930 by the famous architect Berlage. The town hall has a tower with two bells in it, which turned out to be less beautiful than expected during construction. The architect then decided to make the tower a little higher than planned, but the municipality of Usquert did not want to pay for this. Berlage paid for the adjustment himself. The Eva mill is also located in the tertiary village. This grist and peel mill was built in 1818 and was first located in Bedum together with another mill called Adam and both mills functioned there as polder mills. The'couple\\\' had a hard time and was eventually separated. Adam moved to Delfzijl and can still be viewed there. Eva burned down on its current site in 1890, but was rebuilt in 1891 on the base of the first mill. After the tower mill fell out of use around 1950, there were three restorations. The mill is opened by volunteer millers on Saturdays. Then you cycle through Warffum, the largest mound in the Netherlands. The mound is a protected village sight and there is a beautiful open-air museum (Het Hoogeland). Here you can admire the smallest sawmill in the Netherlands, the David. The church of Warffum is located on the hill. This church was raised with brick in the sixteenth century and the church was re-plastered in the nineteenth century. The international dance festival Op Roakeldais is held annually in Warffum in the last week of June. As a final sight you will come across the Jonge Hendrik mill in Den Andel along the way. The Noordermolen used to stand on the north side of this village. This burned down twice, the first time in 1859, and the second time in 1874. After the Noordermolen went up in flames for the second time, a mill was brought from Niekerk and rebuilt in 1875 into the current De Jonge Hendrik. The mill operated on a voluntary basis until 1998. The mill was still used to peel barley into groats until the 1980s. After the recent restoration, the mill has recently become active again.