Noardlike Fryske Wâlden

The province of Friesland has many beautiful natural areas, and the Noardlike Fryske Wâlden National Landscape is one of them. "Noardlike Fryske Wâlden" is Frisian for Northern Frisian Woodlands. Now there are some forests in the area, but the main characteristic of this peatland area is the typical pattern of plots and the large number of “dobben”, a type of pond without a source or outlet channel.

Dobben and Alder Canals

When you're walking through the Noardlike Fryske Wâlden, you will be sure to notice the many dobben. These shallow ponds are remnants from the Ice Age. Thousands of years later, farmers first used these ponds for peat extraction and subsequently as water reservoirs for cattle. There are about 300 such ponds in the area.

People were happy to exploit the peat soil during the last century. The peat extraction has created a peculiar land allotment pattern with alder-lined canals as far as the eye can see. This is a typically Dutch phenomenon, where people planted rows of Alder trees on both sides of a ditch.

Medieval paths

During a tour through the landscape of Noardlike Fryske Wâlden, you will pass beautiful estates, monasteries, and picturesque hamlets. Some paths are centuries old and were once walked by monks and peasants on their way to nearby churches and farms. Surrounded by traces from a distant past, it seems as if time has not had any effect on the beautiful scenery of the Noardlike Fryske Wâlden.

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