Augustinusga: Mills, Church and Architectural History

Augustinusga offers a range of things to explore during a stay, from a medieval church and historic buildings to designated walking and cycling routes. The village’s history is reflected in different types of buildings, their former uses and individual places of remembrance. If you are planning to explore a destination with a focus on cultural heritage and routes, you can take these themes into account.

Cultural History and Buildings

The Sint-Augustinuskerk brings together two clearly distinct periods of construction. The brick hall church, with its rectangular east end, was built in the mid-15th century on a raised churchyard behind an older tower. The tower dates from the 13th century. The church’s structural elements therefore date back to different centuries.

The church’s historic interior furnishings also include several notable details: the pulpit has corner pillars and a coat of arms on its front panel, while the pew reserved for the lord of the manor has heraldic panels. There are also gravestones belonging to prominent families and an organ dating from 1883. These various furnishings and the organ give the interior its own historical points of interest.

Another mill-related landmark is the Boktjasker east of Augustinusga. It is one of only two examples of this type in Friesland. The tjasker at It Oast 1b in Augustinusga was a former Boktjasker-type polder mill.

De Woudenhof was built in Augustinusga in 1915 as a residence and notary’s office. It was commissioned by the notary Harterink and designed by the architect H. A. Pothoven from Amersfoort. The building is classified as interwar architecture. The villa at Geawei 1 offers another combination of residential and notarial use: built in 1850, it served as the office and home of the notary Landmeter.

A smaller type of building is the farmhouse at Legeloane 6. The farm is a Kop-Romp type dating from the second half of the 18th century. Together, these buildings illustrate different uses: De Woudenhof combined a residence with a notary’s office, the villa served as an office and home, while the farmhouse belongs to its own farm type.

At Abrahamsplein, a monument incorporates a former gable stone bearing the coat of arms of Achtkarspelen. The coat of arms depicts a church with eight church towers. A war memorial was unveiled at Brêgeloane/Izermieden in 1956. The Timmerschuur at Geawei 20 was fitted out as a wheelwright’s and cooper’s workshop. Stynsger Bosk also survives as a remnant of Augustinusga’s former country estates.

Walking and Cycling Routes

Walking route 37 Reaskuorre–Blauforleat is 4 km long and takes about an hour. It follows paved paths throughout, starts at junction 56 in Roodeschuur, passes through Augustinusga and ends at junction 95 in Blauwverlaat. Its length and approximate duration can help you plan your time; check local conditions before setting out.

The historic Noordoost cycling route passes through Augustinusga and is approximately 32 km long. It is a circular route, and you can choose your own starting point. This gives you different details to consider when choosing a route: for Route 37, the information includes its course, approximate walking time and paved surface; for Noordoost, it includes the approximate distance and the freedom to choose a starting point.

Blauwverlaat and the Regional Setting

Blauwverlaat is a hamlet belonging to Augustinusga, with a harbour on the Prinses-Margriet Canal. Harbour facilities may vary. In the wider travel area of Achtkarspelen lies De Noardlike Fryske Wâlden, which has National Landscape status. These regional landscape features complement the local buildings and routes without being presented as individual attractions in Augustinusga.

Discover more destinations: Buitenpost, Surhuisterveen, Gerkesklooster, Twijzelerheide, Surhuizum.

View the wider travel guide: Achtkarspelen.