Some of the defining features of Goëngahuizen are It Eilân, on the edge of De Alde Feanen National Park, and mills whose history can be traced through timber dating, water management and operating status. For your stay, it helps to consider these features separately: access and seasonal breeding restrictions are important for It Eilân; the dates associated with the mills each tell a different story about materials, function or historical records.
It Eilân: two islands and seasonal access
It Eilân is a 230-hectare area on the edge of De Alde Feanen National Park. It consists of the two islands of It Eilân-East and It Eilân-West. This means the landscape can be understood not only by its area but also by its division into two parts.
It Eilân is accessible almost all year round by water or via the footbridge near Goaiïngahuzen. Seasonal breeding restrictions also apply. When planning a visit, therefore, both of these two access options and the restrictions in force during the relevant season are important. Before your visit, check which breeding restrictions apply and take them into account when choosing when to go.
Mills: timber, water management and traces of history
In 2009, the Roekmole was moved to an island near Goëngahuizen. Its oldest parts are believed to date from 1798 and to be made of Dutch oak. The date refers to the oldest parts; it does not automatically mean that the entire mill was built in that year.
De Modderige Bol involves a different timber date: parts of the lower tower were made from oak felled around 1736. The mill also drained the approximately 55-hectare Adamse polder until 1952. The focus here is therefore both on the construction history of individual parts and on a former role in water management.
According to current knowledge, the Jansmole is the oldest surviving mill in Fryslân and turns very regularly. At Heechhiem, the oldest known reference to a mill at the site is dated 1820. Shortly before the turn of the year 2024/25, Heechhiem was once again capable of milling.
These dates are best compared according to what they represent: 1798 is the estimated date of the Roekmole’s oldest parts; around 1736 is the felling date of the timber in parts of De Modderige Bol’s lower tower; and 1820 is a historical reference to a mill at Heechhiem’s site. The 2024/25 milestone, by contrast, describes how Heechhiem was once again capable of milling shortly before the turn of the year. This keeps the history of the materials, historical records and operating status distinct from one another.
A cycling break on the Dorpenroute
There is a rest stop with a toilet in Goëngahuizen along the Dorpenroute. If you are planning to cycle the route, this rest stop provides a specific place to take a break. So, alongside It Eilân’s seasonal access considerations and the varied histories of the mills, practical information for a cycling break is also available.
Discover more destinations: De Veenhoop, Oudega Gem Smallingerlnd, Rottevalle, Oudega, De Tike, Houtigehage, Drachten
Back to the main travel overview: Smallingerland.
