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Traces of Saint Titus

(102 km)

Cycle route through the Frisian meadows - Titus Brandsma's heitelân - to consecrated places in Dokkum and on the Wadden Islands, among others.

A Frisian has been canonised again for centuries: the farmer's son Titus Brandsma, born in 1881 in Bolsward, was recently canonised by the Pope in Rome because a miraculous healing could be attributed to him.

Brandsma was widely active as a professor at the Catholic University in Nijmegen, as well as within Frisian language education and the revival of pilgrimages to Dokkum. In World War II, his fight for freedom of speech became fatal to him.

This cycle route follows the traces of Saint Titus in Friesland.

Birthplace Bolsward
The former town hall of Bolswa…

Cycle route through the Frisian meadows - Titus Brandsma's heitelân - to consecrated places in Dokkum and on the Wadden Islands, among others.

This cycle route follows the traces of Saint Titus in Friesland.

Birthplace Bolsward
The former town hall of Bolsward houses an exhibition dedicated to Titus' life. Also visit the Roman Catholic church where he spent his early childhood and where a memorial chapel has been set up for him. Then cycle past the farm near Oegesklooster where the saint was born.

Past churches and monasteries
Through a green meditative landscape, along the banks of the vanished Middelzee, you cycle towards the Frisian capital. On the way, you pass many churches, bell towers, former monastery sites and even a Buddhist stupa (only after Leeuwarden), where you will find a Boniface statue with a bottle of spring water in addition to 1,000 Buddha statues. After visiting the Leeuwarden churches, you can spend the night in Stadsklooster Jabixhûs if you wish.

Pilgrimage to Dokkum
The next day, cycle along the Dokkumer Ee, on your way to Friesland's pilgrimage site: Dokkum. Titus was a connoisseur of medieval Frisian monastic history. The architectural style of the Bonifatiuskapel in Dokkum was inspired by this. In this monastery-like chapel, audio tour 'Stations of the Cross Titus Brandsma' awaits you. You can also visit the Titus Brandsma Pilgrim Chapel with reliquary here and see a modern statue of Titus in the park near the chapel.

Titus on Ameland
Finally, you cycle to the northernmost tip of Friesland - the pier of Holwerd - where you take the boat to Ameland to visit the remarkably restored Roman Catholic Clemens Church of Nes, where Titus plays a role in the stained-glass representations.

To the penurious monks
The best way to end this trip in the footsteps of Titus is with a boat trip from Ameland to the neighbouring island of Schiermonnikoog. There you can stay in the monastery of the monks on the outskirts of the village.

Refugios
Along the way, you can stay in refugios, which are simple places to sleep in churches, totally appropriate for this journey. Pilgrims can stay for €15 in the churches of Nijland, Sibrandahûs, Jorwerd, Hiaure, Blessum, Boksum, Wânswerd and Foudgum, among others. All information and rules (e.g. you need to be a member of the Stichting Alde Fryske Tsjerken or the Nederlands Genootschap van Sint Jacob ) can be found on the website of Santiago aan het Wad.

Sights on this route

Starting point:

Plein 1455 1
8701 EW Bolsward

Museum De Tiid

Museum De Tiid, the House of Stories, is located in the former town hall of Bolsward and presents the fascinating history of Southwest Friesland.

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Broerekerk (church)

The Broerekerk was built in the 13th century as a monastery church of the Friars Minor. The monastery was abandoned and demolished in 1580. The three-aisled church without a tower is a ruin as a result of a fire that took place on 8 May 1980.

Titus Brandsma monument

Father Titus Brandsma, priest and professor at the Catholic University of Nijmegen, died in 1942 in Dachau concentration camp because he urged Catholic newspapers not to publish Nazi propaganda.

Birthplace Titus Brandsma

On February 23, 1881, Anno Sjoerd Brandsma was born in the Ugo Monastery, near Bolsward. He was the fifth of six children, five of whom would enter the monastery.

Hartwerd Bell Tower

In the Middle Ages there was a Romano-Gothic church where the Hartwerd bell tower now stands. It was very unusual for a little mound village such as Hartwerd to have its own parish church.

Tea garden and mini campsite De Dille

A unique stop along the Elfstedenroute, between Leeuwarden and Sneek. Our tea garden is located by the Zwette, right in the heart of Friesland. The mini campsite sits by the water — perfect for casting a line or taking a refreshing swim.

Sint-Bonifatius Church

The church is named for the heavenly Saint Boniface. It was built in around 1882/4 in Leeuwarden to designs by the architect P.J.H. Cuypers.

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Grote of Jacobijnerkerk

The Grote of Jacobijnerkerk is the oldest and, from an architectural point of view, the most important church in Leeuwarden.

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Accommodatie Claercamp

Beautiful farmhouse with a wheelchair accessible 5 person apartment with kitchen, bathroom and spacious living room. In the barn area are 2 attractive double guest rooms. A wonderful place to relax and enjoy the tranquility of the Frisian landscape!

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St Boniface Chapel

The 2.5-metre high memorial statue of St Boniface next to the St Boniface spring marks the spot where the saint died. Monastery stone was used to build a chapel near the spring to make this a place of pilgrimage.

Church of Hiaure

This national monument in Hiaure was built in 1869 on the foundations of a medieval church. Pilgrims can stay here for a small fee.

Buddhist Centre at Hantum

Hardly what you would expect! In the middle of the Frisian landscape at Hantum, there is a Tibetan Buddhist temple or stupa. It is believed that the presence of the stupa will bring good fortune to the region.