Wijnaldum was originally a terp village and lies on one of the terps in a row that extends for more than two kilometres towards the northeast. This gives the village a strong connection to the landscape, which is reflected in the Terpen-Kuierroute walking route. Other highlights include the Late Gothic Saint Andrew’s Church, the discovery history at Tjitsmaterp, and paths with different themes. When planning, you can choose between landscape, architecture and historical traces rather than reducing the village to a single attraction.

Experience the terp landscape on foot

The Terpen-Kuierroute Wijnaldum runs around the row of terps, which consists of six terps lying side by side on a salt marsh ridge. The walking route is five kilometres long and starts at the Archaeological Centre in Wijnaldum. This gives you both the route length and starting point for planning. The focus is not just on one terp, but on the row as a whole. If you are interested in the shape and arrangement of this landscape, you can plan your walk around this clearly defined theme.

The Wijnaldumer bos village garden offers a different connection to the history of the terps. It was created at the site of the former terp after land consolidation in the 1970s. There is a walking path and a viewing tower at the height of the original terp. The link between the former terp, the landscaped garden and the height of the tower connects the original landform with a specific place. The three-metre-high Terpentoer offers views across the landscape as far as Tjitsmaterp.

Paths with different themes

There are also paths with their own themes for other interests. The Kattenroute Wijnaldum passes eight utility boxes painted with graffiti cats. The Spoarpaad: Troch it lan fân Winaam passes the former Wijnaldum railway station, which was in operation from 1903 to 1935. You can also see the remains of an old railway bridge over the Ried between Wijnaldum and Sexbierum. These routes offer two clearly distinct themes: the painted boxes on the Kattenroute and the historic railway traces along the Spoarpaad.

Saint Andrew’s Church and early history

Saint Andrew’s Church also combines several clearly identified architectural and decorative features. It is a Late Gothic hall church with an integrated west tower dating from 1904. Inside is a richly carved pulpit; the pulpit basket, stairs, back panel and sounding board date from 1728. These details distinguish the Late Gothic church building from the 1904 tower and the pulpit components from 1728.

In the early Middle Ages, Wijnaldum was an important centre of trade and power. A unique golden cloak pin from the 7th century was also found at Tjitsmaterp. These are two different historical references: the first describes the importance of the village, while the second concerns a specific find at the named terp.

If you are looking for a hotel in Wijnaldum, you can choose where to stay based on your interests: the terp route offers a walking distance you can plan around, while Saint Andrew’s Church, Tjitsmaterp and the themed paths offer different historical and landscape connections. These give you concrete points of reference for deciding what to focus on during your stay.

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