Around the Weerribben

The little watermills throughout the landscape are fighting acidification: they are used to water the Rietkragge (reed belt), so that it’s more productive.

The Weerribben is a large area of low peatland, home to extraordinary birds, butterflies and dragonflies. Try to spot them all from inside the bird hide on the Kooibomenpad.

Starting in the 30s, large areas along the Steenwijkerdiep were drained and reclaimed as meadows and farmland. The polders that formed included a new village: Scheerwolde. Some land to the north of Scheerwolde was not reclaimed, and the Woldlake wood came to be.

The little mill was built in 1963 by Roelof Dijksma and graces the natural area of De Weerribben. The mill provided water for the peatland behind it. There is also a tjasker (traditional dutch windmill) to the north, along the Hoogeweg. This tjasker is near the spiderhead mill De Wicher.

The Hoogeweg features several peat cutter’s houses. This is where the peat cutters and their families lived until the end of the 19th century. For more information, take a look at the Weerribben Outdoor Centre in Ossenzijl.

Visitor Centre De Weerribben is the ultimate departure point for trips on a closed-top excursion boat, fluisterboot (‘whisper’ boat - electric boat) or canoe at Weerribben-Wieden National Park. Also perfect for a walk or cycling. There is a tourist information point in the outdoor centre.