A mill built to drain the Veenpolders, a cemetery with a long history and a marshland area with a birdwatching hide give Sintjohannesga several distinct facets. If you’re looking for a place to visit with cultural history and nature-related attractions, you’ll find plenty of ways to explore here—from industrial history to walks and birdwatching in the surrounding area.
Mills, Churches and Architectural History
De Hersteller was built in 1857 to drain the Sintjohannesgaaster Veenpolders. It is the last and only surviving example of five similar mills, and was restored in 1981. The De Grie pumping station shows influences of interwar architecture and is considered architecturally significant. Together, the two buildings illustrate different aspects of water management and architectural history: De Hersteller represents the drainage of the Veenpolders, while De Grie reflects architecture shaped by the period between the two world wars.
The village’s history can also be traced through several dates. Sintjohannesga’s current cemetery was established at this site in 1608; a church was built there two years later. The present-day Johannestsjerke was brought into use on 1 December 1963, the first Sunday of Advent. These milestones belong to different periods and should not be taken to refer to a single church building.
At Streek 2, a medium-sized farm of a type typical of the region retains details of its original interior. The front house was built in 1826 and is now a Rijksmonument, a protected national heritage site. The tiled room features wood-grained bed alcove walls; the mantelpiece and skirting boards are partly marbled. Streek 4 has neoclassical features. The farms therefore offer different architectural points of interest: one has a dated front house with a documented interior, while the other displays neoclassical characteristics.
Memorials and a Cycling Route
The Sintjohannesga war memorial is a memorial stone. It commemorates five residents who lost their lives in acts of war during the occupation. Another memorial is dedicated to resistance fighter Richard Jung: a column bearing a relief of the Czechoslovak lion and an inset black plaque stands on his grave. An information board about Richard Jung is located at the entrance to the Sintjohannesga cemetery. Near Easterskar there is also a Second World War weapons drop site, whose codename was “Frying Pan.”
The 17.6-kilometre “Herdenkingsroute rondom Joure” (Memorial Route around Joure) passes through Sintjohannesga. Its Sintjohannesga stop includes a cemetery with war graves. The route thus combines a specific cycling trip with local remembrance; the area’s historical significance is reflected both in the memorial stone and in the war graves at this stop.
Easterskar and Nannewiid: Nature to Suit Your Interests
Easterskar, a short distance south of Sintjohannesga, is a lowland peatland area with extensive reed beds, species-rich grasslands and peat woodland. Walking routes lead along old peat cuttings, through the peat woodland and to a viewpoint by a birdwatching hide. Around 90 bird species breed in Easterskar in spring, and the “Skiere Goes” birdwatching hide offers views of abundant birdlife. Spring brings a particular focus on birds, while the described walks also take in the area’s different landscape features.
Nearby Nannewiid also offers opportunities for swimming, fishing, canoeing, sailing and windsurfing. Ice skating is another option in winter. The nature experiences therefore differ considerably: Easterskar is all about peatland landscapes, walks and birdwatching, while Nannewiid offers activities on and by the water, as well as ice skating in winter. Which of these options suits your trip depends on whether you’d rather explore landscapes and birds or take part in the listed water activities.
Discover more destinations: Teroele, Terkaple, Oldeouwer, Sint Nicolaasga, Idskenhuizen, Joure, Boornzwaag, Rohel
For the overview of the wider area: Skarsterlân.
