Camping de Watermolen - Route Northeast: Opende - Briltil - Zuidhorn - Faan - Boerakker - Snipperij

The starting point of this route is Camping de Watermolen in Opende (Openderweg 26).

Then you cycle towards Peebos (local'Piebos\\\'); a hamlet and region in the municipality of Grootegast on the border with the province of Friesland. The name comes from a forest that stood here and belonged to a man named Pebe (Piebe).

Just before junction 94 (in Lutjegast) is a nice picnic area.
A little further on is Lutjegast , the birthplace of the famous navigator Abel Tasman . A monument and a memorial stone remind of Lutjegast's most famous son, as well as a street name in the village, namely the street where Abel Tasman himself lived. In Lutjegast you will also visit a deer park with a playground for the children.

The hamlet of Gaarkeuken was bombed on November 11, 1944 by 15 British Typhoons from Volkel Air Base who dropped 32 bombs. The bridge and locks as well as some houses were completely destroyed.

Briltil is located just before Zuidhorn, which was created around 1600. The name comes from a drawbridge (the til) over the Hoendiep to the region of the Bril (bril means marshy land) northwest of the bridge. The white swing bridge over the Hoendiep is generally called the Briltil, but is actually called Brildraai. The old Veerhuis near the Brildraai is in use as a steakhouse annex village hall (Andre Dokter) where you can enjoy a delicious meal.

Zuidhorn is attached to Briltil; a commuter municipality mainly focused on the city of Groningen and the population is relatively higher educated.

The name Enumatil comes from the bridge (til) of Enuma built around 1445. The village had its own chapel around 1500. In 1582, the Spaniards built a defensive rampart around Enumatil to protect the shipping route to and from the pro-Spanish city of Groningen. In the middle of the village is the corn mill Eben Haëzer , which you will pass on your bike ride.

Boerakker originated in a peat area that is located between the high sand ridges of Langewold in the north and Vredewold in the south of the Westerkwartier . The dirt road"Boerenakkers\\\" or"Buurackers\\\" dates from the late Middle Ages. The name"Buiracker\\\" appears on a so-called seal from 1686, in which Lubbe Iwema sells a farm in Niebert to Jan and Johannes Engberts. The first demonstrable buildings are indicated on a military topographical map from the early 19th century. The 1829 cadastral map shows the Reformed church and two houses. In 1867 there were ten houses.

After Boerakker it is still a few kilometers to cycle back to Camping de Watermolen .