The mystery behind the name of the River Linde has never been solved. It may come from 'Lind', the old Celtic word for ‘pool’, ‘lake’, ‘sea’ or ‘ocean’, or possibly from ‘Linde’, the High German word for ‘gentle’.
The upper course of the river forms the border between the municipalities of Ooststellingwerf and Weststellingwerf, while the lower course marks the border between the provinces of Friesland and Overijssel. The river is unusual in that it was formed by the toe of a glacier. It became overgrown with raised bog vegetation and was channelled between 1922 and 1927. The channelling of the river destroyed large sections of the river valley. This had a significant impact the natural environment and quality of life in the local rural area.
If you continue along the River Linde you eventually arrive at the Lindevallei nature reserve, where there are rare black alder swamp forests that only grow on low peatland and in stream valleys. Tree density has increased in this area, partly due to the draining and silting up of the peat pits. Lindevallei is a viable nature reserve surrounded by aquatic water violet, water buttercup and whorled water-milfoil. The area is also known for its many species of dragonflies.
