The Duurswouderheide nature reserve is a large heathland reserve in Southeast Friesland that is managed by Staatsbosbeheer, the national forestry organisation that oversees the Netherlands’ green heritage.
You can park near the beautiful little old church on the road between the villages of Wijnjewoude and Bakkeveen. The car park is the starting point of several hiking trails. There are information panels with details.
You can also pick up a cycle path and a bridleway here. This will lead you past heathland, forest and large ponds. The small pools are the remains of pingos formed in the Ice Age that can be admired to this day! It is impressive to consider the age of these pools as you walk past.
Craters hollowed out during the Ice Age gradually filled with decomposing vegetation that turned into peat. People excavated the peat, which was used as fuel. The craters or ‘pingos’ then became visible in the landscape as small round ponds. In the Netherlands pingo ruins can be found in the north and east of the country.
The area that is now the Duurswouderheide nature reserve and the 't Oude Bosch nature reserve on the north side of the road has been owned by the Lycklama à Nijholt family since 1880. 't Oude Bosch was used as a country estate, the heathland was reclaimed and turned into farmland.
