Lage Midden and Sneekermeer area

The Landscape

The Lage Midden is often described as a landscape of marshes, lakes, and peat meadows. Nestled between the sandy uplands of southeast Friesland and the clay-rich regions to the north and west, this low-lying, flat area has a peat-rich soil shaped by centuries of interaction between people and water. Starting in the Middle Ages, monks and farmers began reclaiming the wet peatlands, creating a characteristic mosaic of long, narrow fields, peat pits, canals, and drainage ditches. In the wetter parts of the area, meadow birds like the black-tailed godwit and lapwing thrive, while ditches and peat pits provide a home for rare aquatic and waterside plants. This unique landscape tells an age-old story of living with water, of reclamation, peat-cutting and the clever adaptation to soil that is difficult to cultivate yet rich in value.

The Sneekermeer (Lake Sneek) was formed through peat extraction in the vast peatlands east of the town of Sneek. What remains is an open and water-rich landscape of reed beds, marshy woodlands, small islands, and winding waterways that connect the lake to the surrounding Frisian lake district. For centuries, the Sneekermeer has played a key role in Frisian culture and economy. Where peat and trade goods were once transported by boat, the focus today is on leisure and water sports. The lake is home to the famous Sneekweek, the largest inland sailing event in Europe. With its open water, natural shorelines, historic villages, and sweeping views across the Frisian countryside, the Sneekermeer area is a much-loved destination for cyclists, walkers, and anyone who enjoys life on and around the water.