Ten Boer reveals its history on several levels: in its terp village, a Romanesque-Gothic church and mills with different functions. There is also a public walk exploring nature and history, as well as Ten Boersterbos. If you are considering Ten Boer as a destination, you can decide before booking whether the church and mills or the walk and woodland better match your interests.
Church and local history
Ten Boer is a terp village that developed in the early Middle Ages on a long, raised riverbank. Kloosterkerk Ten Boer adds a clearly defined architectural feature to this historic setting: it is a single-nave Romanesque-Gothic church. Its interior includes a painted pulpit from 1530, pre-Reformation choir stalls incorporated into huifbanken, an 18th-century baptismal font and a bell from 1705. The church interior thus brings together furnishings from several centuries.
Mills with different functions
De Widde Meuln was built in 1839 as a barley-peeling mill; in 1855, it was also put to use as a grain mill. It is also technically distinctive: a hoist reaches up to gallery level. It is considered the only grain mill in the Netherlands with this feature. Visits are scheduled on Saturdays from April to September, between 1 pm and 5 pm. Check in advance whether these hours apply to your visit date.
Molen Bovenrijge was originally built in 1903 between Thesinge and Ten Boer. It served as a sawmill, polder mill, barley-peeling mill and grain mill. Group tours are available on request; visitors can watch wood being sawn inside the mill. Seasonal opening hours may change, so check visit options in advance.
Walk and woodland
The Educatieve route Ten Boer is a public walk exploring nature and history. Several stops feature activities, QR codes and videos. The starting point is by the Bruine Beuk next to Kloosterkerk, at Kerkpad 3; no registration is required. As the route’s features may change, check the latest route information before setting out.
Ten Boersterbos is part of Staatsbosbeheer’s Hogeland nature area. It has paths specifically designed for wheelchair users. So, alongside a walk with a historical focus, woodland trails offer another way to enjoy nature.
Art and further information
The sculpture Schip in de Wind by Herbert Koekkoek stands on Parklaan near a cemetery. It reflects Ten Boer’s historic connection, maintained by regular trekschuit traffic: since the 17th century, the village has been linked in this way with Groningen, Appingedam and Delfzijl. The Grote Kijker offers a different perspective: this viewing and art sculpture made of Corten steel stands on Spottershill in Ten Boersterbos, with its lens pointing towards the city of Groningen. The sculpture Zittende vrouw by Frans Kokshoorn stands on Koopmansplein.
The outdoor swimming pool De Blinkerd is another specific amenity in Ten Boer. It has a sunbathing lawn with climbing frames and a kiosk. The Boltbrug bus stop on Rijksweg is 750 metres from Kloosterkerk. When planning your visit, it is also useful to note the difference between the activities: the Educatieve route is open to the public and requires no registration, while group tours at Molen Bovenrijge are available on request.
Discover more destinations: Ten Post, Sint Annen.
For the main travel overview: Ten Boer.
