© Little eight

This route connects to the Zuiderzee route we made, which goes along the old Zuiderzee coast to Harlingen and back via Kimswerd and Pingjum. This new route Kleine Acht goes along the Trekvaart, formerly the Hieslumer EE to Bolsward. It was the drainage of the peat area around Parrega / Hieslum in Friesland. There are several'canals\\\' called the Ee throughout Friesland. They took care of the drainage and reclamation of the land. Later this canal became a Trekvaart to transport goods and milk via barges. In 1638 this canal was also extended to Burgwerd, which therefore flourished enormously. Earlier, Burgwerd was located on the Middelzee and around the year 1000 dikes were already built to protect the land against seawater. The main church dates from 1300. Later a small chapel was built in the village, this was after the Second World War. From number 10 to number 35 you cycle over the Slachtedijk, one of the oldest dikes in Friesland. The dike was not constructed as a whole, but is a link and extension of polder dikes. In 1825, with the last flood, the dike was still in use. Since 1995, the dike is no longer an official flood defense and has become a natural historical monument. You continue to Tzum. This village is known for the high pointed church tower of no less than 72 meters high. The tower was built in 1548. Via the village of Tzum, you cycle via Hitsum to Franeker. Hitzum is a mound village. Terps were raised in salt marshes, later the land around was reclaimed. The first habitation is as in Roman times. Westerhitzum, Doijum and Sopsum are small settlements around the village of Hitzum and also very old. Ultimately, these villages were located on the'island\\\' Westergo, which was enclosed by the Middelzee on the east side, the Marneslenk in the south and the Zuiderzee on the northwest side. Hitzum belongs to the'oldest mounds\\\' generation, which dates back 400 years before Chr. were built! You cycle to Franeker, the main town in North Westergo, which developed enormously in the Middle Ages. In 1585 Franeker got a University. The city attracted celebrities such as Des Cartes, Prince Friso, Peter Stuyvesant and Anna Maria van Schurman. Now the former Academy City is best known for the Eise Eisinga Planetarium and the most important PC handball match every year. Via Achlum and Arum you reach the village of Witmarsum. Witmarsum is known for Menno Simons, the founder of the Mennonite faith. He has followers all over the world, such as the Mennonites. All these villages, Arum, Achlum and Witmarsum are terp villages, raised in the old Westergo. The settlements are very old and date back to 400 BC. A noble Aylva family lived in Witmarsum. The family is extinct, but many names in the village still remind of the family. Witmarsum doesn't have many shops anymore, but it still has a very nice garden center, just outside the village. Next to it is the memorial of Menno Simons, it attracts many visitors every year! The city of Bolsward was located on the Middelzee and the Marneslenk and has city rights. Bolsward has a beautiful town hall, designed by Jacob Gijsberts. Behind the town hall is the birthplace of his son Gysbert Japicx, the founder of the written Frisian language. In the house is a museum and the tourist information point.  Diagonally opposite the house you will find the Titus Brandsmamuseum, father and resistance fighter. If you walk down the Dijlakker, you will come to the large Martinikerk, do take a look inside. In Bolsward there is also the old Kloosterkerk Broerekerk. The city has a beer brewery and the Berenburg factory. From Bolsward to Exmorra and Allingawier. Allingawier, the Experience Village originated from a museum route. All cases are now clustered and reveal the history of Friesland. Especially in the field of agriculture, but also old crafts find their way here. A delicious cup of coffee with a drabbelkoek? You can also go there for a simple lunch. Via a beautiful rural path, you arrive in Parrega. This village used to be on the Parregaaster lake, where the tastiest eels were caught. It was transported to London via Workum, Heeg and the Gaastmeer. A fishing history. The village has been active for a long time. The old café on the water can still be viewed and visited at set times. it still has a trochreed, the passage where horses could be stabled, when the'lord\\\' fetched a drink, came to rest or traded. To get back to Dedgum you pass the bridge over the Trekvaart, barges were pulled along this, previously it was the drainage, the Hieslumer Ee. Dedgum and Parrega are almost on the edge of the border between clayland and peatland. Towards Workum there are lower lakes that were pumped dry around 1880. Peat was cut here and it was peatland. Dedgum itself is a mound village and originated around the 8th century. There were also residents here earlier in Roman times. Time to stretch your legs, relax, close your eyes, close your beaks... © Vakantie Zuidwest Friesland