Heerenveen: Culture, Nature and Trails

Explore Heerenveen through a range of interests: art and cultural history sit alongside trails through peatland, forest and open countryside. For your planning, both short, specific ideas for visits and longer tours are worth considering. The historic sites and varied routes each give your stay its own focus.

Art, architecture and history

Crackstate is one of Friesland’s most significant monuments. Johannes Sytzes Crack had the building constructed as a residence in 1648. The Belvédère offers a different perspective on the history of recreation in Oranjewoud: this 20-metre-high reinforced-concrete observation tower was built in 1924 and is significant in terms of cultural and architectural history because of its function as a viewing point.

De Overtuin is also one of the area’s defining historic sites: the park is part of Landgoed Oranjewoud and was laid out in the 17th century on the commission of Albertine Agnes van Nassau. De Overtuin is freely accessible via the entrance on Lindelaan; check for current notices about possible temporary closures before your visit. Landgoed Oranjestein was established in 1820 as a 19th-century Frisian country estate.

Guided tours of Landgoed Oranjestein can be booked year-round. They cover the park design by Lucas P. Roodbaard and the family history of the Bieruma Oostings, who live there; check current availability when planning. The gardens of Landgoed Oranjestein were open to the public on Sunday afternoons during the summer months. The seasonal visitor experience included two garden trails, which visitors could follow using wooden arrows, followed by tea in the Orangery. Check the visitor arrangements in advance.

At Museum Belvédère, 20th-century and contemporary Frisian visual art is presented in dialogue with works by related artists from the Netherlands and abroad. The museum is in Oranjewoud, near Landgoed Oranjewoud. You can reach it from Heerenveen station by OV-fiets; check the current options for this connection when planning. Museum Heerenveen focuses on Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis, a pioneer of Dutch socialism, in a biographical museum. Temporary exhibitions add stories, art and history to the experience.

Oranjewoud Festival is a music festival set in the parkland of Oranjewoud near Heerenveen. Since 2012, it has been held at cultural and historic sites in and around Oranjewoud. If you would like to coordinate your trip with a festival edition, check the dates and programme for that edition.

Walking and cycling

The Landgoedwandeling Oranjewoud takes you across the old estate to the Belvédère observation tower and along grand avenues through the surrounding forests and other estates. The “Boom tot bos Oranjewoud” route offers a different way to discover the forest: it passes through Reigersbos, along avenues and along small, winding paths. QR codes along the way provide information about monumental trees, notable residents and the functions of the forest.

The landscape of De Deelen was shaped by peat extraction in the past. Today, the nature reserve is a mosaic of bodies of water, reed beds, swamp forest and narrow strips of grassland, providing a habitat for numerous bird species. The red walking route crosses wooden boardwalks and a floating bridge through the peatland, as well as fields and nutrient-poor meadows. As route infrastructure may be under maintenance or rerouted, check current route information before setting out.

A self-operated chain ferry for cyclists and pedestrians runs between Luinjeberd and De Deelen. Its service may be temporarily suspended, so it is a good idea to check before your trip. The municipality of Heerenveen also has a walking and cycling network of junctions created by Marrekrite. The Doortraproute Heerenveen–Bontebok starts at Museum Belvédère and leads from the eastern side of Heerenveen into Oranjewoud; it is suitable for tricycle users.

For a shorter route, the 2.5-kilometre Rolstoelroute Ketliker Skar is a practical option: the paved, wheelchair-accessible path starts at the It Beekpronkje visitor centre. Along the way, you can observe nature from forest to grassland, including fallow deer and roe deer, as well as numerous bird species. Sightings may vary; also check the current trail conditions in advance.

If you are planning a longer walk, you can choose from routes of different lengths and themes. The 16.2-kilometre “Mildam and surroundings – Walking along the Turf Route” passes the Ecokathedraal. Louis Le Roy began construction there in the 1970s. The Ecokathedraal is described as a place of work where humans, plants and animals interact without a fixed plan and for an indefinite period. Another longer option is stage 10 of the Bonifatius Kloosterpad: the 19.3-kilometre off-road route runs via Katlijk and Mildam to Oranjewoud.

More experiences

Thialf has several ice rinks for recreational skaters: a 400-metre rink, a 333-metre rink and a 30 × 30-metre rink for the youngest visitors. As facilities may change, check the current offering before your visit. The Abe Stadium Tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Abe Lenstra Stadium, including the press table and a view of the pitch from a business lounge. Here too, it is advisable to check availability and booking conditions in advance.

Discover more destinations: Oranjewoud, Heerenveen, Oudeschoot, Opsterland, Menameradiel, Leeuwarderadeel, Tytsjerksteradiel, Weststellingwerf.

For the main travel overview: Friesland.