Paterswoldsemeer route

The Paterswoldsemeer lake was created around 1800 by peat extraction. From 1900 onwards, it primarily served as a recreational lake. Within Groningen, the lake was significantly expanded with the addition of the Hoornse Plas (1976) and the Hoornsemeer (1982).

Eelde/Paterswolde with the estates
The village of Eelde is mentioned in a charter as early as 1139, and Paterswolde in 1447. Paterswolde merged with Eelde after the Second World War. The area is known for its beautiful villas and estates. The route passes near:

The Braak
The De Braak estate includes a monumental park. Designed in the 19th century by landscape architect Roodbaard, the park features winding lanes, vistas, and graceful ponds. De Braak also features a maze and a berceau made of interwoven beech trees.

Havezate Vennebroek
In addition to the manor house, the Vennebroek Estate includes the Friese Veen nature reserve. The current building dates from 1848. The pond is surrounded by ancient beech and chestnut trees. The oldest is over 300 years old and has a trunk circumference of 4.7 meters. The Friese Veen is an area of swamp forest, water, and reed beds. It was created after peat extraction in the first half of the 19th century.

Havezate Lemferdinge
It is not known when the Lemferdinge estate was built. In documents from
It was already mentioned in 1447. In the past, there was a large country house with a moat, two
treasuries and stood. Today, the estate consists of a treasury and gardens.

Vosbergen
The villa and estate were built around 1900. The Kraus-Groeneveld couple purchased a farm and some woodland in 1890. The current park is designed in the English landscape style.

Manor Oosterbroek
Originally, Oostebroek stood in the 15th century on the Borgstee site east of its current location. Little is known about that building. The current house dates from 1830, with renovations dating from 1924. It was requisitioned by the Germans during WWII. A beautiful star-shaped forest runs along the cycle path.

House in Glimmen
On the eastern bank of the Drentsche Aa River, Huis te Glimmen lies hidden within a moated area. The current Huis was built around the 16th century on the foundations of a motte-and-bailey castle destroyed in 1227. The accompanying Quintusbos forest was created around 1820.

Northlaren
The most striking buildings in the village of Noordlaren are the Stellingmolen (Stelling Mill) from 1849 and the Protestant St. Bartholomew's Church. The oldest part of the church dates from the 12th century, and the tower, founded on boulders, dates from the early 13th century. A 15th-century mural is still visible inside the church.

Southlaardermeer
The Zuidlaardermeer is a natural extension of the Hunze River and was formed at the end of the last ice age, about 7,000 years ago. So many different birds can be found along the banks and on the lake that it has been declared a protected bird area.