Ter Apelkanaal is a canal village whose origins are closely linked to the waterway. In 1856, the Stadskanaal was extended beyond Musselkanaal to here; afterwards, Ter Apelkanaal developed as a canal village. Initially, the canal was called Stads Ter Apelkanaal. Locks, bascule bridges and the buildings along the banks form the common thread for a cultural and historical visit to the village.

A canal village with a linear settlement

A partly linear settlement stretches along both sides of the canal. It is somewhat denser at the western lock end, and more loosely built elsewhere. Workers’ houses dominate the streetscape, alongside middle-class houses and individual farmhouses. These buildings mostly date from the first half of the 20th century. The contrast between denser and more loosely built sections, as well as between different building types, makes the settlement pattern itself part of the village’s history—not just the individual locks.

Locks, bridges and historic houses

At the northern end of Ter Apelkanaal, just beyond the canal bend near Jipsingboermussel, lies the lock complex of the 6de Verlaat, also called Gekoppelde Sluis. The pedestrian bascule bridges over the Gekoppelde Sluis were built in 1910 to a design by the J. Coning machine factory in Groningen. The lock complex and bridges provide a tangible architectural landmark at the northern end of the village.

To the south, a post-war bascule bridge stands in line with the Nulweg. The lock keeper’s house at this bridge dates from around 1875 and features a crow-step gable, as well as plastered, wedge-shaped, eyebrow-like forms above the windows. These southern structures allow different periods of construction to be compared without assigning the bridge and house to the same period of origin.

At the corner of the Schaalbergerweg stands a large farmhouse of the Oldambtster type, unusually large for the region. To the south, the former Coöperatieve Bakkerij ‘Eendracht’ also stands out. The farmhouse and former bakery extend the view beyond canal construction and locks to other buildings that shape the village’s appearance.

Activity and regional culture

The Dorpshuis Ter Apelkanaal’s program includes an annual cycling tour. If you would like to include it in your plans, check the date in advance. Another route option is the marked Westerwoldepad: the 99-kilometre circular route runs from Wedde via Ter Apel and back to Wedde. The cycling tour and the circular route are different ways to include physical activity in your stay.

In the area around Ter Apelkanaal, Forellenvisserij De Slegge has four large fishing ponds and a total of 15,000 m² of fishing waters. Caught trout may be taken home; sturgeon and catfish are released. Non-anglers can also visit the two Finnish-style café-restaurants. If you plan to visit, check the current visiting and fishing conditions in advance.

The region’s cultural history also includes the annual Westerwolder Schriefwedstried for Groninger stories and poems, which was held for the 31st time in 2026. The awards ceremony was scheduled for Friday, 20 March 2026, at the Dorpshuis d’Oale School in Ter Apelkanaal.

Discover more destinations: Bourtange, Ter Apel, Sellingen, Vlagtwedde.

Return to the main travel overview: Vlagtwedde.