A day through Groningen greenery

This route takes you through Groningen and the surrounding area. You take a bike ride past beautiful views, historic buildings and a surprising amount of urban nature.

Beautiful Paterswoldsemeer
In the outskirts of Groningen you can quickly look out over the Peizermaden, a beautiful low peat area with groves, hedgerows and rugged grasslands. On your left you will see the Hoornse Meer, which was created in the 1970s by sand extraction. A little later you drive past the adjacent Paterswoldsemeer, which was created in the sixteenth century by the excavation of peat. The Paterswoldsemeer has been voted the most beautiful place in the Northern Netherlands. So squeeze your brakes to enjoy this environment even more.

Groningen city parks
Groningen has a number of beautiful city parks. You drive past the Sterrebos, a park that was built in 1765. Originally it was actually a starry forest with eight paths leading from a central point in different directions. The current park is laid out in the English landscape style. The City Park was constructed at the beginning of the twentieth century according to a design by landscape architect Singer.

Harense villas
Haren is also called the Wassenaar of the North. Cycling through the Rijksstraatweg you will understand why. For example, at number 76 is't Huis de Wolf, a country house in neo-Renaissance style from 1892. This house was built at the time by a 24-year-old Frisian farmer's son, Atze Wassenaar. He had an inn from 1691 demolished for it. The Nicolaaskerk from the thirteenth century is also located in Haren. The tower burned down several times, the original gable roof was replaced in 1914 by a high octagonal spire. According to tradition, Bommen Berend used the church tower as a lookout post during the siege of Groningen in 1672. The townspeople then allegedly shot a plate of sauerkraut out of his hands. Two cannonballs from that period can still be found in the tower.