National Landscape Zuidwest Fryslân

The Landscape

National Landscape Southwest Fryslân covers no less than 51,420 hectares and offers a unique mix of water, nature, and cultural heritage. This region has a rich and layered history. From the first settlers who built terps (artificial dwelling mounds) to protect themselves from the water, to the construction of dikes and the rise of thriving trading towns. Agricultural peat reclamation, sea dikes, and inland dikes have all helped shape the landscape into what it is today. The area is divided into four distinctive regions: the clay soils of the north, the rolling glacial ridges of the southeast, the water-rich peat and lake district in the centre, and the dynamic IJsselmeer coast in the southwest.

This route takes you through the open peat and lake landscape, where lakes, canals, and ditches are lined with swaying reed beds and colourful, flower-rich meadows. You’ll cycle past centuries-old hay meadows and willow-covered islets, in a landscape where peace and space take centre stage. The scenery breathes tranquillity and tells the story of peat reclamation and water management. Along the IJsselmeer coast, the landscape shifts dramatically. Here, you’ll find tidal sandbanks, reed marshes, and sparse grasslands, a haven for countless birds. Amid this vast and open landscape, the historic harbour towns of Hindeloopen, Workum, and Stavoren offer lively and charming stops full of history and character.