Oldambt – a region for relaxation with lots of enjoyment

Oldambt is a municipality in the Groningen region. Here, vacationers will find peace and relaxation as well as adventure and cultural experiences. It is an ideal place to get away from it all and experience the beauty of nature and culture in the Netherlands.

Oldambt was once the granary of the country. Landlords made a lot of money and communism ruled the region. Until everything collapsed, people moved away and the fields were left uncultivated. It took a while, but now crops are being sown and harvested again in the country’s granary.

Today, the region is one of the most water-rich areas in the Netherlands. At the heart of the region lies the Oldambtmeer, a large artificial lake. Here you can swim, fish, go boating or simply relax and unwind. There are numerous cycling and hiking trails that allow you to enjoy the natural beauty to the full.

We present some of the most beautiful rural places in the region.

Landwinkel Ol Diek

Fancy fresh regional produce from the Oldambt region? Then Landwinkel Ol Diek is just the place for you.

We enter a large farm store and I feel like I’m in paradise. First a short orientation tour and then we start shopping. Cheese from the region and baking mixes from the mill in Kropswolde to bake with our grandchildren end up in the shopping basket straight away. We also couldn’t resist a hearty sausage that hadn’t seen the light of day on the way back.

I discover the beer from the Westerwolde brewery, ice cream from the Westerkwartier and various jams – what a temptation…

Fruit growing

Let’s find out a little more about fruit growing. Here at Landwinkel Ol Diek, we sell cherries, apples and pears from our own harvest. A small part of the orchard is located right next to the farm store building.

The cherry trees stand under large tarpaulins that protect them from the birds. There are a total of 10 different varieties of cherry grown here. The fruit is usually ripe in July/August and is then harvested by hand. During our visit, only a few large juicy fruits were still hanging on the branches, the harvest season was almost over and only the last fruits were still available in the farm store.

In contrast, apples and pears from our own orchards are available all year round. The trees stand in rows, with just enough space between them for two people to walk side by side. Fruits of different sizes hang from the branches, which still need some time before they can be harvested. The apple harvest usually begins in August. The apple trees bear different varieties that ripen at different times. The harvest usually lasts until September. Here too, each fruit is harvested by hand and then placed in large refrigerated storage rooms before being sold.

In addition to fresh fruit, processed products are also on offer. For example, there is apple juice and apple sauce, which are produced in-house.

Before you leave the farm, don’t miss a stop at the small café. They serve homemade apple pie!

Opening hours

Wednesday – Saturday: 9.30 am – 5 pm

Address

Hoofdweg west 26
9944EB, Nieuwolda

Hoogheem – Museum

The municipality of Oldambt is characterized by many small villages, settlements of farms and endless fields of grain. At a time when the grain republic was flourishing and the farm owners wanted to show off their wealth, many farms were transformed. The owners built a porch in front of the old buildings, which usually looked stately and grand. In front of it was a representative garden with a driveway.

In Hoogheem you can still find a farm built in 1771, which still exemplifies the typical Oldambster style. As the style of the courtyards around it changed, the owner at the time would certainly have liked to make his property more representative. However, even then a road ran directly in front of the property and there was not enough space. It was therefore decided to simply erect a new building on the opposite side. The family moved in here in 1881 and the “old” farm was retained, with only the servants living there.

The farm has not been inhabited since around 1930 and the interior has not been changed. There are now new owners who are gradually breathing new life into the farm.

Museum visit

A small museum has been set up in the well-preserved farmhouse dating back to 1771. You enter through the former barn, which still looks the same as it did over 100 years ago. On one side, where the cows once stood, we discover numerous tools. On the other side, there used to be horses. These stalls have been restored in such a way that only the horses are missing to get a complete impression.

A door leads into the large barn. Here you will find a collection of agricultural tools and household items. Each item comes from the Oldambt region and has been found on various farms and donated to the museum. There are exhibits that were used as early as the 1700s, while the most recent finds date from the 1960s.

I am amazed at what there is to discover here. From ancient preserving jars that are still filled to large agricultural machines – the hall is full of memories that bring the history of the region to life.

Yes, and some of the objects also bring back memories for me. There is furniture and household items on display that remind me very much of my grandparents’ home.

The museum can be visited from May to October on Wednesdays and Sundays from 1pm to 4pm. The entrance fee is €3 per adult.

Guest apartments

In the front part, i.e. in the area that was previously used as an apartment, there are now two guest apartments. Of course, these have been adapted to modern requirements and the terrace with its large garden is simply perfect for relaxing and unwinding.

Address

Langeweg 2
9944 CC Nieuwolda

Boat trip on the Oldambtmeer

To be honest, I had never heard of the Oldambtmeer before and was a little surprised to see a “sea” in the middle of a country. Even though the lake, because that’s what the Oldambtmeer actually is, is huge – it’s not a real “sea” with waves and miles of beach.

A “sea” is created

It can’t be, if you look back just a few years. At the end of the 1980s, the future of the municipality of Oldambt looked pretty bleak. The average age of the population was very high. Young people were leaving because they couldn’t find jobs. At the same time, many of the large agricultural areas were lying fallow. It was clear to everyone that if something didn’t happen soon, neither new residents nor holidaymakers would want to come to the region.

Fortunately, people “remembered” the time when the Dollard regularly flooded the surrounding peat areas during high water. This created a lake in the 16th century. This lake is named after the family on whose land it lay. The Huningmeer was located roughly where the Oldambtmeer is today. After the peat was dug up, the lake dried up and the farmers used it for farming.

To give the region a new perspective, a plan was made to create a lake on the peat bog between the sandy hills of Midwolda, Oostwold and Winschoten. Houses were to be built around the lake, and the local population and holidaymakers would have the opportunity for water sports and recreation.

It took some time before the resistance from the population subsided. The plan was finally approved in 1997. Now around 100 residents had to move to the site so that construction of the Oldambtmeer and the new “water town” Blauwestad could begin in 2004. On May 12, 2005, the then Dutch Queen Beatrix came to Oldambt, opened a tap and the lake began to fill up.

What a lake

It took just 1 year for the water level of the Oldambtmeer to reach its desired level. On average, the lake has a depth of 1.30 meters and is about 800 hectares in size. However, the water level varies due to evaporation and rainfall.

The lake opened for water sports and recreation in April 2007. Due to the shallow depth, boats on the lake should not have a draught of more than 1.10 meters. If you want to reach the lake by boat, you can enter from Winschoterdiep or Termunterzijldiep. The access routes are limited in height and width.

Boat trip across the Oldambtmeer

Our boat trip starts at Jachthaven Midwolda. We were able to park the car free of charge in a large parking lot right next to the marina and, as there was still some time, we first took a look at the boats moored in the harbor.

Then we set off. A short briefing at Bootverhuur Blauwestad with a look at a map gave us an initial indication of the size of the lake. We wanted to cruise for about 2 hours and definitely take a look at the new settlements on and in the lake.

You can rent a boat here even without a license!

The boat was already ready on the jetty and after the lines were untied, we slowly left the marina. The large Oldambtmeer opened up in front of us and we really enjoyed the trip in the sun and the wind.

Our first destination was on the opposite side of the lake. This is where the artificial settlement of Blauwestad was built. On small islands connected by bridges and roads, a new development area has been created with houses that look quite expensive. Every house has access to the water and I would have loved to move into some of the beautiful houses straight away.

After we had left the very well-planned complex, with all the streets and canals arranged in a straight line, through a small canal, we headed back out onto the lake. Passing a small island, we drove under a bridge into another area characterized by many small islands and canals. In Het Riet, however, the somewhat winding waterways and the natural look of the island make it look less planned. New houses have already been built on some of the islands, but some areas are still unused and overgrown.

Back on the open Oldambtmeer, we enjoy the numerous water birds, discover anglers and watch a group of children sailing. There is even a bathing beach on the northern shore. Truly a perfect recreational area for the Oldambt region and a perfect place for a relaxing vacation.

Address

Jachthaven Midwolda
Strandweg 1
9681 BK Midwolda

More excursion tips

The visit to the Oldambt region took place in cooperation with ZO!Groningen.