Walking along bell chairs in the Frisian lake area

Historical bell chairs
This walk takes you past several bell towers. It is not entirely certain where these isolated structures are located today, but it probably has to do with the fact that certain areas in Friesland used to be too poor to build a church. Other communities were too small for their own church. If a church was built, it was usually a small building without a tower. The clock was then placed separately in a bell chair. If a church with a tower was built later, the bell tower was demolished. However, the opposite also happened. If a church had become a ruin, a bell tower was often chosen. Outside Friesland you will hardly find bell chairs. This can therefore be called a typical Frisian building.

Stray cattle
But there is more than just the bell towers. You can also relax in this rural area. In some places you walk among grazing cattle. Be careful to close all gates properly so that cattle do not escape.

The old dirty Joure
Joure is one of the larger towns in the area of this route. The place was created on a sand ridge at an intersection of waterways. Joure is not a city, but it is too big to be called a village. These kinds of places are called a'vlecke\\\' according to Old Frisian tradition. The balloon parties take place in Joure every year in July. Numerous hot air balloons take off from Joure every day. Be sure to take a look at Joure if you are in the area around this time.

More information about the Southwest Friesland region can be found on the website of VVV Waterland van Friesland: www.waterlandvanfriesland.nl