Oldambt and Groningse Stuwwallen

The Landscape

With 14 million cubic meters of water and a surface area of 800 hectares, the Oldambtmeer is one of the largest lakes in the Netherlands. All around the lake, you will find nature in many different forms. To the east lie young forests, grasslands, marshes, hedgerows, and glacial ridges. The southern area offers a varied landscape with open water, canals, dikes, reed beds, and small lakes. In the northwest, you can explore Groningen’s only primeval forest, surrounded by vast fields of grain and rapeseed, hedgerows, grasslands, and stately historic farmhouses. At the heart of it all lies Blauwestad, once farmland and now a beautifully developed residential area surrounded by water and nature.

The Groningse Stuwwallen form a unique and surprisingly rolling landscape in the otherwise mostly flat province of Groningen. These ridges were created during the penultimate ice age, when glacial ice pushed large masses of sand and stones against the land. As a result, they now rise gently from the surrounding lowlands like soft hills. The landscape is varied and rich in both natural and cultural features. Forests, heathlands, fields, and meadows alternate harmoniously. Across the region, small streams and shallow valleys accentuate the gentle terrain. Historic farms, country estates, and traditional villages built around central greens (brinkdorpen) complete this diverse and scenic area.