Cycling along the water

This route of over 50 kilometers takes you through picturesque villages and through a watery area called 'De Kop van Overijssel'. This beautiful nature reserve is characterized by lakes, streams, canals, extensive reed fields, but also flower-rich meadows and dense swamp forests. Cycling through De Wieden you can fully enjoy the calm waters, but also the activity that matches the many marinas in this area. De Wieden, together with De Weerribben, forms one of the most important wetland areas in Europe. This polder area has been extensively excavated in history due to peat extraction. This has created extensive reed fields and flowery hay fields. Water, lots of water, in the form of gorges, lakes, ponds, canals and fens stimulates the growth of special plants. The swamps are densely vegetated and here you will encounter, among other things, pine clubmoss, swamp clubmoss, blond sedge and slender cotton grass. Fish eaters such as the cormorant, the curlew, the black tern and the purple heron get their food from the waters of De Wieden, but other birds of prey also hunt here. The marsh harrier and rare short-eared owl make their prey on the quaking bogs, blue grasslands and bogs. If you prefer culture, the Oldenhof Estate offers a welcome change. The stately manor was built around 1635, but since that time the country estate has been regularly inhabited, renovated, renovated, restored and further developed. The white house has a beautiful forecourt and is surrounded by a canal, a large garden and an attractive park forest. There are also two farmsteads on the estate, which together with their lands complete the estate. Another beautiful sight is the Monks Mill in Sint Jansklooster. The tower mill, built in 1857, is covered with reeds. This mill also functioned and still functions as a flour mill.