East Loop of the De 8 van Grou Cycle and Ferry Route
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This popular cycle route takes you along waterways in the heart of Friesland.
Along the way you get to enjoy 5 ferry crossings. A wonderful experience for all ages!
You can start the route at the Tourist Transfer Point (Toeristisch Overstap Punt or ‘TOP’) near the It Damshûs open air museum in the village of Nij Beets. From here, you cycle along many canals and past pumping stations such as the Sudergemaal. The Sudergemaal pumping station is on one of the waterways of the Turf Boating Route. It was built back in 1924 to drain the polders and was one of the first electric pumping stations to be built in Friesland. It is now part of the It Damshûs open air museum.
This rout…
Make it easy to navigate. Download the route in Google Maps!
This popular cycle route takes you along waterways in the heart of Friesland.
Along the way you get to enjoy 5 ferry crossings. A wonderful experience for all ages!
You can start the route at the Tourist Transfer Point (Toeristisch Overstap Punt or ‘TOP’) near the It Damshûs open air museum in the village of Nij Beets. From here, you cycle along many canals and past pumping stations such as the Sudergemaal. The Sudergemaal pumping station is on one of the waterways of the Turf Boating Route. It was built back in 1924 to drain the polders and was one of the first electric pumping stations to be built in Friesland. It is now part of the It Damshûs open air museum.
This route also takes you through the beautiful De Deelen wetland reserve, past sites of cultural interest and through vibrant water sports villages. Be sure to enjoy the many birds you will see in this area.Â
And every so often, take a moment to relax at the rest areas, picnic tables and terraces along the way.Â
In short, this route is the perfect combination of nature and culture.
Locations on this route
Openluchtmuseum It Damshûs
The open-air museum offers a fascinating retrospective view into the past, somewhere around 1900. The museum also shows its visitors the process in which bog is turned into peat and the horrible conditions the laborers had to deal with. Dwelling hous...
Sudergemaal Pumping Station
The Sudergemaal pumping station is on one of the waterways of the Turf Boating Route. It was built in 1924 to drain the polders and was one of the first electric pumping stations built in Friesland. Today it is part of the It Damshûs open air museum.
De Deelen Nature Reserve
The De Deelen nature reserve was a peat mining area. Today the land is a mosaic of water, reed beds, patches of swamp forest and narrow strips of grassland. This wetland area is home to many species of birds. There is also unique industrial heritage here.
Koningsdiep River
The Koningsdiep river winds its way between the villages of Akkrum and Bakkeveen in Southeast Friesland. The surrounding landscape is dotted with meadows with wooded banks and forests with beautiful walks.
Grou Command Post
The former command post at Grou is now part of a museum that conserves the heritage of the organisation set up to protect the population during the Cold War. Experience the feeling of the Cold War and visit the underground bunkers.
Wind Engine at De Veenhoop
This unusual windmill was built as a large American wind engine. It was transported to the Netherlands by a trading company based in Rotterdam in 1926 and now drains the land to the northeast of the village of De Veenhoop.
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