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In the Kop van Overijssel you can cycle a beautiful round through the Wieden, the rugged nature reserve that consists of a mosaic of swamp forests, reed beds, flowery meadows and lots of water. The Venice of the North awaits you at the end of your route: Giethoorn!

Ferry in Jonen
In the middle of Dwarsgracht is one of the thickest and oldest ash trees in the Netherlands. The tree was planted around 1800, the trunk is now more than 4 meters thick and 25 meters high. In Jonen you cross the Walengracht with a pedestrian ferry. In high season the crossing costs € 1.10. In the winter, the boat is replaced by a self-service ferry. Blokzijl is a nice town that enjoys a protected village scene because of the beautiful historic buildings on the harbor.

St. John's Monastery Water Tower
The Wieden mainly differs from the Weerribben because of its larger lakes, such as the Beulakerwijde and Belterwijde. Both lakes were created by storm surges in 1775, 1776 and 1825. At Sint-Jansklooster you will pass the former Water Tower from 1932. Since 2014 you can climb to the top of this 45 meter high tower: both the stairs and the panoramic view form a spectacular experience.

The Great Otter Cage
On the edge of Dwarsgracht is De Grote Otterskooi, the largest duck decoy in Western Europe. It is named after the former owner, Sjoerd Otter. The history of duck decoys goes back to the Middle Ages. With the help of tame ducks and a Kooikershondje, mallards were lured to a sheltered spot to catch them, after which they were eaten. This practice no longer takes place: duck decoys are only maintained for their cultural-historical significance. The Grote Otterskooi can only be viewed by booking a paid sailing excursion from De Wieden Visitor Center.