Cycling along the Wadden Sea in Groningen

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 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 Protestant Church of the Netherlands; a national monument dating from the twelfth century. The tower dates from 1869. The church is furnished with a pulpit from the eighteenth century. The organ was installed in 1852 and was completely restored to its original state. Another attraction in Usquert is the Eva mill. This grist and peel mill was built in 1818 and was first located in Bedum together with another mill called Adam. Both were polder mills, but the'couple\\\' were 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. 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. 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 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 a restoration, the mill was put back into use on a voluntary basis in 2013. You start and end your bike tour at Hotel Waddenweelde, where you can park your car for free. You can go there to rest after your bike ride. You can have a nice drink on the terrace, or you can rent a room and take a nice hot shower to wash off the exertion before enjoying a nice meal. The hotel is popular with sports enthusiasts who want to walk the Pieterpad. The hotel is also more than suitable for cyclists, because route 136162 is also part of our cycling package and leads from Hotel Waddenweelde through the area.