The versatile Westerkwartier

As we cycle through the Westerkwartier, we come across beautiful villages adorned by structures that have their origins in a distant past. A fine example is the Dutch Reformed church with its 12th-century saddle-roofed tower in Doezem, showing off on top of the high sand ridge. Influences from this era can be found throughout the area. One of the most famous sights in the Westerkwartier is the belfry in Oldekerk. Hidden deep in the meadows we find the now 130-year-old water tower \"De Eendracht. Besides the architecture, the Westerkwartier also shows traces of the peat extraction of the past. The peat, extracted from the peat, left behind many peat holes which created the peat ponds. We also drive through Lutjegast, the native village of explorer Abel Tasman, honored with a memorial stone and a street name, where his birthplace once stood. Among the peat lakes we also find pingo ruins, dating back to the Ice Age. Meadows alternate with willow woods and shrubs, creating a beautiful coulisse landscape. On the higher sand ridges, we see a transformation of flora to oak trees and sweet cherry trees. In short, dye your senses with the scent of orchids, the sounds of birdsong and the beautiful views of both nature and city in the Westerkwartier!