Landmarks From farmer Bos to Sint Nicolaas

The Reiderwolderpolder was reclaimed in 1862/1874 and there was a lot of fighting with the sea. Man diked the land for grain cultivation, then the sea came to take its spoils. But man won, and what was once a seabed is now flat farmland. The cycle route follows the Eemkust and while you get a breath of fresh air, you let your thoughts and dreams run wild.

Halfway through the bike ride you will arrive in the dyke village of Nieuw Beertha where the grain brought great wealth and the social contrasts were enormous. Nickname for the region was the Grain Republic. In 1929 there was the largest strike in the Netherlands ever. In the village there is a landmark Waterstaatskerk from 1865.

Further on is Finsterwolde, a peat reclamation settlement with the Dutch Reformed Church from the 13th century as its landmark. The free-standing tower from 1822 was built after the example of San Giorgio in Venice.