Cycling route Soil in motion 50 km

Appelscha, Ravenswoud, Fochteloo

Get on your bike and discover the beautiful nature and rich history of southeast Friesland. The landscape you cycle through now looks completely different than it used to. And although it looks very natural here, most places have been created or adapted by human hands . In the past, nature was allowed to take its own course, until farmers were'bothered\\\' by nature from the 11th century onwards and made adjustments to the area. Fortunately, nature is recovering in many places here and it is getting better the features of the past are back again.

Along the way you will come across various sculptures by the Austrian artist Hein Mader. This artist was in love with the Frisian landscape and made all kinds of works of art to express this love.

You cycle along the Fochteloerveen, where the soil is still moving. The raised bog in the moist forest is still active and that is a special sight. The peat moss grows between the beautiful reed wreaths, which creates raised bog. But this is not the only special landscape where you cycle along. Along the way you will pass more unique peat areas with special insects such as rare butterflies and dragonflies, but you can also encounter foxes, snakes and deer. You have to look around you well between the peat landscape. The barn swallow and various predatory - and cranes fly everywhere around here.

During the cycle route you will also make a trip to the province of Drenthe, where you will cycle past the colonies of charity. The inhabitants of this colony had to work hard and got all kinds of diseases from the peat. The old hospital is now a hotel. In addition to the In the colony's hospital you will come across even more historical elements, such as the drawbridge and the waterways.

You have seen with your own eyes how dynamic the landscape here is. Are you also curious about what it will look like in 100 years?

Tip: On a hot summer day, bring your swimsuit and hop off at Lake Canada for a cooling dip.