Page 307 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

FRIESLAND  305

countryside, with coniferous
and deciduous forests,
heath and fens offering
ample opportunities for a
leisurely afternoon of rambling
and cycling.

r Appelscha
Road Map D2. * 4,500. @
n Boerestreek 23 (0516-431760).
The vast coniferous forests,
Stately Lauswolt, now a luxury hotel with a restaurant drifting sands and colourful
heath and fen areas around
w Oude Venen Reidplûm visitors’ centre of Appelscha form stunning
It Fryske Gea at Earnewâld surroundings. The village was
Road Map D2. @ n P Miedemaweg
9, Earnewâld (0511-539500). provides information on the created in the 19th century
surrounding area and is a good when the main industry was
This region, whose name starting point for hiking and peat-cutting and is now on the
literally means “the old fens”, is a sailing expeditions. Beside the edge of the Nationaal Park
fine area of peat-marshes with centre is the Eibertshiem, a Drents-Friese Woud.
reedlands, swampy woodlands breeding centre for storks. A favourite place with visitors
and sunken polders between A great deal of attention has is the Kale Duinen area of
Earnewâld and Grou. The lakes been paid to water cleanliness in drifting sands. On the Bosberg –
the region, and now otters have at 26 m (85 ft) above sea level,
returned to breed. In winter, the the highest spot in the area – is
area hosts many skating tours. a viewing tower and
information centre.
} Bezoekerscentrum De A distinctive phenomenon
Reidplûm in southeast Friesland is the
Ds v.d. Veenweg 7, Earnewâld. Klokkenstoel (bell stool). This
Tel 0511-539410. “poor men’s church tower” was
Open mid-Apr–Sep: 1–5pm daily. a provisional church tower
built when funds were low; it
was usually situated in the
e Beetsterzwaag churchyard. In Appelscha you
will find a klokkenstoel dating
Road Map D2. * 3,700. @
n Hoofdstraat 67 (0512-381955). from 1453. Langedijke is home
to what is presumed to be the
This village was once one of oldest bell in the Netherlands,
the seats of the Frisian landed dating from 1300.
The swampy marshes of gentry and so has a number of
Oude Venen stately homes and gardens. Fine Environs
examples of these are Lauswolt, At Ravenswoud, 5 km (3 miles)
were formed in the 17th and the Lycklamahuis and the northeast of Appelsche, an
18th centuries by peat-cutting Harinxmastate. Beetsterzwaag 18-m (59-ft) observation tower
and now offer a home to over is surrounded by a varied provides outstanding views.
100 species of birds and
approximately 400 plant
species. There is a large colony
of great cormorants and various
rare birds such as the spotted
crake, the purple heron, the
white-fronted goose, the
barnacle goose, the Eurasian
wigeon and the ruff, all of which
are best watched in spring.
In and around the water are
water lilies, yellow water lily,
marsh lousewort and cotton-
grass. The area’s hayfields are
yellow with marsh marigold
in spring. Drifting sand dune near the small town of Appelscha
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p399 and p413

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