Butterfly route

Veendam was created when a church village above Munten separated from Zuidbroek and Muntendam in 1655. A lot of peat was excavated around the village and Veendam therefore has a typical peat colonial structure. The houses stood in a long row one behind the other and this is how the ribbon village was formed. Only the excavations and the river Oude AE had no influence on the formation of the center and here Veendam got a different structure than elsewhere in the town. The peat trade developed into a broader coastal trade and the land that was peat was reclaimed as agricultural land. This area has played an important role in the development of today's potato flour and derivatives industry. The area around Oosterdiep and Tusschendiepen is a protected village view. The history of the village has been preserved here. In Groningen many castles and fortresses were built in the thirteenth century, when people started to produce stone structures. People of the nobility and very wealthy families lived in the borgs. There are now only a few left, of which Welgelegen is one. You cycle to this veenborg near Kleinemeer in the municipality of Hoogezand-Sappemeer, after you have parked the car at the free car park in Muntendam. Welgelegen was founded by one of the lords of Groningen: Jan Cornelis Spiel. When you arrive in Kielwindeweer, you can independently visit the old abandoned church in the village. You can pick up the key that gives you access to the sacred building at Key Address J. Stams. Nice opportunity to get off your bike and immerse yourself in a piece of religion and history. As the last sight on the route, Veendam star will not disappoint. Since 2011, this station has been the terminus of the railway connection between Groningen! - Zuidbroek - Veendam, but it is also the starting point of the museum railway line of the STAR. This railway line runs from Veendam via the Stadskanaal to the Musselkanaal. In 1953 the station was closed to passenger trains and the line remained in use only for freight traffic until 1990. In 2005, the station building was bought by the STAR. It is a real tourist attraction where you can discover the region with the old trains and railway lines.