North Willemskanaal and Paterswoldsemeer from Groningen

From here you can discover the Noord-Willemskanaal between Assen and Groningen. It was the most important connection between Assen and Groningen for a hundred years. The first ships sailed across the canal with freight and passengers in 1861, and road transport took over this role from the 1960s onwards. It was the first large canal in Drenthe that was not dug for peat extraction. You drive back through Paterswolde with its protected village view. You also cycle along the Paterswoldemeer, which was already excavated for peat in the sixteenth century. You cycle back to your starting point via the Groningen City Park. You will also cross a beautiful bridge past the Groninger Museum, worth a visit!