Villages Route| Nationaal Park De Alde Feanen

Be surprised by the very authentic surrounding villages of the National Park De Alde Feanen. Each village has its own cultural history that is still clearly visible. With this route, you cycle through Eernewoude, Warten, Grou, Akkrum, Goengahuizen, De Veenhoop and Oudega. Get off for an art route or visit one of the churches or museums. With this route, you will experience a day full of pure nature and culture.

Eernewoude
The route starts in the cozy water sports village Eernewoude. In this village, there is a lot to do. Beautiful boat trips, rent a sup or walk along with the small boutiques at the end of this cycling route. 

Cultural tips Eernewoude: 

• Spot the eel fisherman. Eernewoude used to be mainly a village of fishermen, skippers, farmers and reed cutters. The image of the ielfisker reminds of the Earnewâldster ancestors. Ielfisker' is Frisian for eel fisherman. The statue is made of lava stone and can be found on the north side of the harbor. 
• Make a selfie with the otter
• Visit the church. The Reformed Church was built in 1906. The church has a very special pulpit in the shape of the bow of a skûtsje. Dutch Reformed Church was built in 1794, with a pulpit from 1699. In it the coat of arms of Earnewâld, an eagle with two heads, is carved. The starting times of the services are indicated at the entrance.
• Rider statue. Earnewâld is in a real ice skating village, the sheltered watery environment lends itself in winter to ice skating on natural ice. Earnewâld often has the scoop when it comes to organizing tours on natural ice and when the ice is strong enough the village organizes one of the natural ice classics. In honor of this, there is the Riders statue. Riders' is Frisian for skaters. With three winners of the natural ice classic the "100 fan Earnewald" skating one after the other, this work of art floats on the water opposite the harbor.

Warten
Warten used to be only accessible by water. Only in 1953 the road to Grou was completed. Transportation, therefore, took place by the water. This is why shipbuilding is well represented in the village. Where formerly skouwen and skûtsjes were built, modern seagoing ships are now being built. Warten is now also called the gateway to the national park De Alde Feanen and that is not for nothing. There was and is a natural relationship between De Alde Feanen and Warten which is visible in the museum.

Cultural tip Warten:

• A beautiful museum in a beautiful part of the village that can almost entirely be called museum and therefore worth a visit.
• The museum Warten tells the story of survival in an environment of reed, peat, grassland and water. The museum wants to show how in the past the people of Central Friesland in general but those of Warten, in particular, fought a permanent battle against the water and the elements. 
• Are you hungry now? On the waterfront terrace, you can enjoy delicious dishes. Cheers!
• Hidden among the trees, surrounded by meadows, is halfway between Grou and Warten the Mineralogical Museum. The large barn of an old farmhouse has been converted into a museum.

Grou
This village is also known for its many water sports opportunities. Step in between on a sup to discover this unique area from the water. What you certainly should not skip are the no less than 45 national monuments in and around Grou.
Of these, 26 can be found directly in the center (you can find a booklet 'Paad troch Grou' in the Tourist Information Point).

Cultural tips Grou:

• Museum deer fan Fryslan
• Walk past art in the public space of Grou with the free app developed by the municipality of Leeuwarden, which includes Grou, in collaboration with Kunstwacht. The app contains itineraries and background information about 13 Grouster artworks and their creators.

Akkrum
In the village of Akkrum you will find cozy terraces by the water for a snack or a drink. And for shoppers you have very nice boutiques here.

Cultural tips Akkrum:

• Bike especially along these two beautiful places
• Coopersburg with mausoleum
• Baptist Church

Goengahuizen
Goëngahuizen is a remarkable place of mills. There are three wooden spider head mills from the 19th century. They are mills with pyramid-shaped and pan covered hulls and they are equipped with mortars. All three have a name: Jansmolen, De Modderige Bol and het Heechhiem. They were restored in 1990, 1992/'93 and 1995 and are owned and managed by the De Fryske Mole Foundation.

Oudega
In Oudega you will find a beautiful Rest Point Brêgeham. Drink a cup of coffee here in a cozy place with a beautiful view to continue your journey. Also here are canoes waiting for you if you want to go a little bit from the water.