Page 292 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

290  NOR THERN AND EASTERN NE THERLANDS

2 Grootegast
Road Map D1. * 11,500. @ 33,
38, 39, 98, 101, 133. n Nienoord 20,
Leek (0594-512100). ( Fri.
The little town of Lutjegast,
close to Grootegast, is the
birthplace of the 17th-century
explorer Abel Tasman (see box).
The Abel Tasman kabinet
houses an interesting
exhibition about his life.
The collection includes old
sea charts and books.
E Abel Tasmankabinet
Kompasstraat 1. Tel 0594-613576.
Open 1:30–4:30pm Tue–Sat.

3 Leek
Road Map D2. * 18,000. @ 81, 85, The harbour of the delightful fishing village of Zoutkamp
88, 98, 306, 316. n Nienoord 20 4 Zoutkamp
(0594-512100). ( Thu. In 1846, the then owner,
Ferdinand Folef Kniphausen, Road Map: D1. * 1,200. @ 63, 65,
In the small town of Leek nicknamed “the mad squire”, 69, 136, 163, 165. n Reitdiepskade 11
stands the castle of Nienoord, burned all the family portraits (0595-401957).
built in approximately 1524 by in a drunken fit. Later, the
Wigbold van Ewsum. During orangery and part of the upper The small fishing village of
the 19th century, things at floor were destroyed by fire. Zoutkamp changed its character
the castle seemed to be In 1950, the municipality dramatically after the damming
taking a turn for the worse. bought the castle. Eight of the Lauwerszee in 1969. By the
years later, the Nationaal waterside (Reitdiepskade) there
Rijtuigmuseum, featuring are still a number of fishermen’s
horse-drawn vehicles, was cottages retaining the erstwhile
established here. It contains charm of the village.
a unique collection of royal
coaches, gigs, mail coaches
and hackney carriages. 5 Lauwersoog
E Nationaal Rijtuigmuseum Road Map D1. * 350. @ 50, 63, 163.
n Reitdiepskade 11, Zoutkamp
Nienoord 1. Tel 0594-512260.
Open Apr–Oct: 11am–5pm, (0595-401957).
Landgoed Nienoord Tue–Sun. Closed Mon. & 7 At Lauwersoog, from where the
ferry leaves for Schiermonnikoog
(see p279), is the Lauwersmeer,
Abel Tasman (1603–59) a 2,000-ha (4,940-acre) nature
Abel Janszoon Tasman was born in Lutjegast in 1603 but lived in reserve. When the Lauwers zee
Amsterdam from an early age. In 1633, as a navigating officer for the was drained, the land was
Dutch East India Company (see pp52–3), he travelled to Asia. In 1642, he designated for four purposes:
sailed on the yacht De Heems kerck and then with agriculture, recreation, a
the cargo ship Zeehaen in search of the nature reserve and an army
legendary southern continent. Tasman charted training area.
some of the coast and later reached New
Zealand’s South Island. On 13 June 1643, he Environs
arrived in Batavia (now Jakarta), which he Lauwersoog is a good
called home until his death 16 years later. base from which to explore
From 1644 to 1648, he sat on the Batavian the tuff churches that, in
council of justice; during this time he also the Middle Ages, were built
joined trading missions to Sumatra in villages such as Doezum,
(1646) and Siam (1647). Tasman died on Bedum and Zuidwolde.
10 October 1659, having bequeathed They can be recognized
his money to the poor of Lutjegast. by their grey or green
porous stone.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p399 and pp412–13

290-291_EW_Netherlands.indd 290 16/01/17 12:06 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.4)
Date 25th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm