Turfroute

The other Friesland, with forests, peat colonies and heathlands: that is the southeastern corner of the province. A network of waterways was already under construction in the 16th century, over which turf shippers transported their cargo to the west of the country. The Turf route travels over these waterways through Southeast Friesland, the western part of Drenthe and the top of Overijssel. You also pass four beautiful national parks: the Drents-Friese Wold, the Dwingelderveld, the Alde-Feanen and the Weerribben. The route’s name refers to the past of men of position, turf bosses and poor turf diggers. The turf trade made some of the major Frisian families quite rich. Their legacy, country estates with beautiful gardens and parks, can be seen at places like Bakkeveen, Oldeberkoop, Beetsterzwaag and Oranjewoud. On 25 July 2015, there was a piece in De Telegraaf newspaper about the Turf route.