Lakes and Maggot Route

The village of Peize is mentioned as early as 1165. In the 12th century, a noble family from Groningen had the castle'Huis te Peize\\\' built. Unfortunately, the castle was demolished in the 19th century and parts of the remains were incorporated into the farms between the mill and the church. From 1600 to 1840, Peize was the largest producer of hops for the production of beer in Drenthe. Hop cultivation has been honored with the name of the café/beer brewery'De Hopbel\\\'. The reformed church was built in the second half of the 13th century. The current tower was built in 1824. The church has one of the oldest organs in Drenthe and was built in 1631.

Paterswoldsemeer
The Paterswoldsemeer was excavated around 1800 by peat extraction. From 1900 the lake mainly became a recreational lake. The lake on Groningen territory has been significantly expanded with the Hoornse Plas (1976) and the Hoornsemeer (1982).

Groningen City Park
The Groningen City Park is located on the west side of the city. It was constructed at the end of the 19th century on the initiative of the Groningen industrialist Jan Evert Scholten. In tribute, a monument was placed on Concourslaan. The park was designed by landscape architect L. Springer and JAMulock Houwer.

Lettelberter caps
On the north side of the Leekstermeer there is a beautiful small swamp forest, the Lettelberterpetten or the Olde Mart forest in the open landscape. The Lettelberterpetten are peat holes, created by peat extraction, which have overgrown with, among other things, Black Alders.

Midwolde
Although the route does not run directly past it, the church of Midwolde is clearly visible. The church dates from the 12th and 13th centuries. The interior is beautifully designed. The organ is from 1630 and originally comes from the Borg Nienoord.

Estate and Borg Nienoord
The original castle was built in 1525, but unfortunately burned down in 1850. The current country house was built on the foundations in 1885 by the Van Panhuys family. They were only able to enjoy it for 22 years; they arrived complete with carriage and all in the Hoendiep and drowned. The National Carriage Museum is located in the borg and the Nienoord family park is right next to it. In addition to a playground and a swimming castle, there are various model railways to visit.

The Onlanden
The area between the Leekstermeer and the Paterswoldsemeer is called 'De Onlanden'. The area is designed as a nature reserve and water storage. Old rivers and rifts have been restored to their former glory. Swamp forests and moist grasslands will arise because the area will be partly flooded in winter. It will then become a true paradise for bank and marsh plants and marsh birds.

Veenterpen
North of Peize, in the De Onlanden area, there are more than 200 man-made peat mounds. These are round mounds, the smallest of which have a diameter of approximately 12 meters and are approximately 30 cm high and the larger ones have a diameter of approximately 35 meters and are 100 cm high. On these mounds there was a house made of peat sods and a well. Archaeological research has shown that they were used as small beer breweries in the 12th and 13th centuries. After that they were not used again.