Best bird watching trails in Groningen, Netherlands

The Paterswoldsemeer is a favorite recreation spot in the Netherlands. The lake is ideal for various activities, from hiking to sailing. This route takes you all the way around the Paterswoldsemeer and the Frieseveense Plas, past old farmhouses and a typical Dutch windmill. If you want to shorten the route, you can skip the Frieseveense Plas and take the bridge to cut a few kilometers. This part of the route is also excellent to do on bicycle or skates.Show more

This trail takes you around the varied area of the lake Schildmeer. The walk offers beautiful views on the entire lake, which is a popular nesting area for birds. You cross a number of old Dutch drawbridges and pass a landscaped beach, a popular swimming spot with a restaurant.Show more

As one of the last low peat bogs in Groningen, the Westerbroek area is definitely worth a visit. Horses and cows graze around the area to maintain the planting in the most natural way possible.Show more

This walk takes you all the way around the village of Lauwersoog, a tiny village with its 155 inhabitants. Part of the walk goes along the harbor and the beach. There is a viewing point to see birds.Show more

The International Dollard Route follows the Dollard River between the Netherlands and Germany. The entire route is approximately 360 kilometers and is mainly intended as a bicycle route, but (parts of) the route is also a nice walk. This stretch goes just over the Dutch border from Bad Nieuweschans to Termunterzijl, where you pass a special stretch of the Dollard river, a wide stretch that looks like a lake, and is a popular breeding ground for birds. The route is well signposted and information boards provide interesting facts about the area and nature.Show more

You mainly follow the dyke Noorderdijk between Noordpolderzijl and Lauwersoog. The dyke runs through varied landscapes, and you can choose to walk on or next to the diyke. You have beautiful views of the Wadden Sea, the saltwater marshes and the birds that live there.Show more

This varied trail with, every now and then a beautiful nature reserve, starts in Opende, the Groningen village where they speak Frisian. From here you enter the first nature reserve, Jilt Dijksheide. It is the last peat area in the Westerkwartier Groningen. Jilt was the last owner. You may walk past it, but not through it. From here you walk on straight paths to De Wilp. That is a place that was created for peat extraction. In De Wilp there is a bridge monument over the Wilpervaart. The walk takes you past the three provinces point. Here lie the beautiful nature reserves Allardsoog and Mandeveld, where old graves can still be found and a Landeweer, which served to stop the looting gangs of Drenthe. You end up in Haulerwijk, another village that originated from peat extraction.Show more

This trail starts at the train station in Haren and ends at a bus station in Zuidlaren. The surroundings of the Drentse Heuvelrug were inhabited early on. Proof of this are the 5000-year-old hunebeds where this walk takes you. The route is mostly on unpaved paths. You will pass the Appelbergen nature reserve with its heaths, forests and peat lakes.Show more

A trail with something for everyone, through typical Dutch landscape. The route takes you along the northern shore of the Hoornsemeer, with beautiful views over the lake and along the old Dutch windmill. You walk back along the Hoornsediep river. A beautiful wetland area with far-reaching views and many different birds.Show more