A late Gothic church, two canalised rivers and a viewpoint overlooking fields and water shape the townscape and landscape of Nijeholtpade. There is also a dug watercourse, a high sand ridge and traces of the settlement's medieval history. Visitors wishing to get to know the village will find a variety of themes here: church architecture and gravestones, historic road connections and distinctive landscape features.
The Church and History of the Village
The Heilige Nicolaaskerk is a single-nave late Gothic church with a two-storey tower and a recessed spire. “Single-nave” describes a church interior with one main nave; the tower and spire add their own distinctive architectural feature. The church contains two gravestones belonging to the Lycklama family, dated 1627 and 1640. The church in Nijeholtpade is the village's oldest building and was built around 1525. It stands in an elevated churchyard at Kerkweg 28.
The historic location of the Heilige Nicolaaskerk is also documented: originally, it stood at the intersection of the regionally important Middelweg and Buitenweg roads. Nijeholtpade developed in the late Middle Ages as a ribbon village along the road from Wolvega to Oosterwolde. The former Friesburg stronghold, also known as Lewenburg, stood north of the village on Vriesburgerweg. It is part of the village's history, but is not a surviving landmark today.
Waterways and Landscape
Nijeholtpade lies on a spur of the Drents Plateau in the wooded Stellingwerf landscape. The canalised rivers Linde, also known in Stellingwerfs as Lende, and Tjonger, also known as Kuunder, flank the village on opposite sides. The Scheene is a dug watercourse that flows through Nijeholtpade; a waterway called De Scheene runs from Nijeholtpade to Spanga.
The Zanen, also known as Zanden, is a high sand ridge between the Linde and Nijeholtpade. This means that several different landscape forms meet here: the canalised rivers on opposite sides, a dug watercourse flowing through the village and the sand ridge between the river and the village. The names Lende and Kuunder also reflect the Stellingwerfs names for the two rivers.
Gerrit's Hutte offers expansive views across fields, the river and a lake. With a little luck, you may be able to spot various birds of prey there. The viewpoint combines a broad landscape vista with the possibility of wildlife spotting, although sightings cannot be predicted.
Planning Your Visit
Opening dates listed for the Heilige Nicolaaskerk are 4 and 18 July, 1, 15 and 29 August, and 12 September, each from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm. Before visiting, check whether these dates apply to your year of travel. Gerrit's Hutte can be reached by cycle path from a car park south of Nijeholtpade on the N351. Check road and car park conditions before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Munnekeburen, Zandhuizen, Scherpenzeel, Blesdijke, Oldetrijne, Oldeholtpade, Boijl, Noordwolde.
For the overview of the wider region: Weststellingwerf.
