A visit to the prison village of Veenhuizen

The route begins and ends in Oosterwolde, which originated from a few village greens. In the center, the village church from 1735 stands out. A beautiful bell tower stands beside the church. In the nineteenth century, many workers settled in Oosterwolde, coming to the region for peat extraction. The Turf Route still refers to these activities. This now tourist waterway follows a network of waterways constructed to transport peat from the surrounding bog. The Opsterlandste Compagnonsvaart canal, a key section of the Turf Route, cuts through Oosterwolde. In the 1970s, the waterways were given a recreational function, thus saving the Opsterlandste Compagnonsvaart canal. Be sure to stop at the Prison Museum with its fascinating exhibitions; it offers a unique glimpse into a real prison.