A tour through the Ommelanden

It is wonderful to cycle in northeast Groningen. Wide views, high skies and historic villages make this cycling tour a great day out.

Hoeksmeer Bird Sanctuary
In recent years, the original agricultural area around the De Meervogel mill has been transformed into Hoeksmeer, a meadow bird reserve of meadows and water. Cycling through this area you can spot breeding birds such as the black-tailed godwit, lapwing and redshank. Hundreds of geese pass through here in winter and spring. It is also nice to pedal on the Schildmeer with a view of the rippling water and the meadows.

Wierden
You pass old wierde villages such as Ten Post, Wittewierum and Woltersum. At Slochteren you drive past the Fraeylema mill. This polder mill was built in 1786 by order of the resident of the Fraeylemaborg, one of the best preserved Groningen borgs. The Meervogel is also a polder mill, it dates from 1801. In Schildwolde you can still see one of the two existing Juffertorens; which in Schildwolde dates from 1289. The name refers to a damsel: a long pine trunk that tapers to a point.

Ommelanden
De Ommelanden is the old name for the areas in the province of Groningen outside the city of the same name. These areas were originally Frisian. The pompeblades on the historic Ommelander flag are therefore the same as the Frisian, Swedish and Danish. You can also see this history in the origin of some names. You drive through Siddeburen, a village that was once called Sigerdachurke, an Old Frisian name that means'the church of Siegerd\\\'. From 1350, the Frisian language gradually gave way to Low German, which was spoken in Groningen.