In Rottige Meente, water and land, reed beds and flowering grasslands alternate. Peat-cutting pits and narrow strips of land tell the story of how peat extraction shaped this wetland landscape in the 19th and 20th centuries. Exploring Weststellingwerf means encountering not only a remarkable landscape, but also traces of how it came to be.
Wetlands and paths along the Lende
Alongside expanses of water, the mosaic of Rottige Meente includes floating grass mats and reed beds. You can explore the landscape on a guided walk with a forester along the banks of peat-cutting pits; check availability in advance. A longer hiking option is the Boswachterspad Rottige Meente. It starts at the car park on Pieter Stuyvesantweg in Nijetrijne and covers 16.6 kilometres. Red arrows mark the route. Conditions may change, so it is worth checking the current route before setting out.
The Lendevallei stretches along the Linde between De Blesse and Wolvega and is accessible during daylight hours all year round. You can walk through the swamp forest or cycle along the stream. Walking and cycling are also possible in Brandemeer in Weststellingwerf. If you would rather observe than cover ground, you can photograph nature there and spot various bird species.
Another cycling route runs along the Lende between Vinkegavaartweg near De Hoeve and Domeinenweg near De Blesse. It was modified in 2021, and old meanders of the Lende were restored in three places. Blessebrugschans is part of Lendevallei and is also accessible during daylight hours all year round. Parking is available at Blessebrug in Wolvega.
Exploring the waterways
At Driewegsluis near Nijetrijne, you can travel by water from Overijssel to Friesland. From there, you can choose between the Friese Merengebied and the historic Turfroute. In Rottige Meente, the De Scheene waterway runs from Nijeholtpade to Spanga; today, it is used mainly for boat excursions. The different routes offer a range of ways to experience the landscape from the water.
Passantenhaven Driewegsluis has a boat slipway and six motorhome pitches. The facilities listed also include toilets, showers, electricity and water, as well as a wastewater disposal point. As details of the facilities may change, check their current status before your trip.
Windmills, military history and a museum
De Mars in De Blesse is an octagonal grain mill built in the form of a gallery Dutch windmill. It has been listed as a Rijksmonument since 11 October 2005. De Mars is open to the public by appointment. Windlust in Noordwolde can also be visited by appointment; arrange your visit in advance.
History is also evident at Blessebrugschans. The star-shaped defensive fortification was built during the Eighty Years’ War at a strategic point on the Linde and formed part of the Friese Waterlinie. It reopened in 2010 after the earth rampart and bridge had been reconstructed. This is where military history meets a landscape that can now be explored on foot and by bicycle.
Museum ’t Kiekhuus is located in Wolvega in the former De Korenschoof bakery. During a visit, guests are always given a tour by one of the residents. As visiting arrangements may change, find out in advance how to arrange a visit.
A seasonal attraction
If you would like to combine time outdoors with a swim, you’ll find the heated outdoor pool De Dobbe in Noordwolde, set in a recreational area. It has several pools, a play lawn, a slide, a diving board and a kiosk. De Dobbe is open seasonally; check whether the outdoor pool is open before you travel.
Whether you’re interested in a walking route, a cycling trip, a visit to a historic fortification or a journey on the water, the sites and landscapes offer different perspectives on Weststellingwerf. Take the arrangements for each type of visit into account—from booking a windmill visit in advance to the seasonal opening of the outdoor pool.
Discover more destinations: Blesdijke, Noordwolde, Oldeholtpade, Oldetrijne, Scherpenzeel, Wolvega, Zandhuizen, Boijl, Munnekeburen, Nijeholtpade.
Back to the main travel overview: Friesland.
