St Vitus church Wetsens
WETSENS
Wetsens was once Fryslân's largest mound, but only a small part of it has remained since 1892. The ascent to the church has become quite steep due to excavations
Take a look
Still beyond Dokkum, almost on the Wadden coast is the mound village of Wetsens with the Sint Vitus church in the middle. Due to its remoteness from the connecting road from Dokkum to Metslawier, this village has remained beautifully intact.
This mound was once the largest in Fryslân, but only a small part of it has remained since 1892. A farmhouse was built on the excavated land. The ascent to the church became quite steep due to the excavations. Despite all the changes over the centuries, the village of Wetsens forms an idyllic picture.
The small church was built of tufa stone in the 12th century. In 1842, the gabled roof tower collapsed and was replaced by a three-sided roof with a separate (attached to the church) bell tower.
This church has been owned by the Alde Fryske Tsjerken Foundation since 2016 and is managed by a local committee of volunteers. The committee organises fun activities such as walks and concerts; check the church's website for a list of activities. The church is also rented out for mourning and weddings.
Here you will find St Vitus church Wetsens
Opgong 19122 CV WETSENS Plan your route
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Oldeholtpade - Scheltingapolder - kijkheuvel
Oldeholtpade - Scheltingapolder - kijkheuvel
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Attack on the port of Oostmahorn
Attack on the port of Oostmahorn
The liberation of the north-eastern part of Friesland was not achieved without a struggle. The Dutch Domestic Armed Forces (NBS) and Canadian troops fought fierce battles, partly side by side. It was mainly occupiers fleeing in panic who caused fights and shootings that claimed victims on both sides. A fierce battle was also fought over the port of Oostmahorn.
After the liberation of Dokkum, Kollum and Dokkumer Nieuwe Zijlen, the attention of the Canadian troops turned to the port of Oostmahorn. It was the gateway to the island of Schiermonnikoog, which was part of the German defence line, the Atlantic Wall. This bulwark ran along the coasts of France to Norway. During the war, and extensive occupying force was stationed on the Wadden Island.
The village of Oostmahorn was "relieved" by the Dutch Domestic Armed Forces (NBS) on Saturday, 14 April, after the German Grenzschutz (border control) left in silence for Schiermonnikoog. Meanwhile, a group of more than a hundred fleeing SS and SD men and a dozen women crossed the Lauwerszee from Groningen near Zoutkamp with three boats to the island. A number of them were high-ranking SD members of the infamous Scholtenhuis in Groningen. When the NBS saw them sailing past from the port of Oostmahorn, shots were fired back and forth.
The German occupying forces on Schiermonnikoog then wanted to take revenge. The village and the port of Oostmahorn were attacked from the island for two hours on Monday, 16 April. A convoy of three Dutch boats left for the port with the aim of landing there. Meanwhile, the help of the B-Squadron of the Royal Canadian Dragoons (1st Armoured Carrier Regiment) in Dokkum had been called in. The attack was narrowly repelled, but two Canadian soldiers from a reconnaissance group were killed. A defence line of foxholes and armoured vehicles was erected around the village.
Further reinforcements were called in that day from Leeuwarden, where C Company of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders were sent to the coastal strip to patrol for German landing attempts.
After a brief but heavy shelling from the Canadians as a warning, a mediator was sent to the island the next day. The highest-ranking SD officer refused to surrender. They were waiting for an escape with a Schnell boat that was to take them to the German Wadden island of Borkum on 3 May. That turned out to be in vain, but in the meantime they kept the island occupied, even after the general capitulation of the whole of the Netherlands on 5 May.It was not until 11 June that two boats, the MS Waddenzee and the MS Brakzand, transported the last occupiers of Schiermonnikoog to the port of Oostmahorn. A column of army trucks packed with prisoners of war left the port under the guard of the Allies. From there they went to the POW camp in Beerta (Groningen).
