Elsloo: Schaopedobbe, Mill and Village History

Elsloo brings together nature and a rich village history. The Schaopedobbe, the Tjasker Vesuvius and the church with its neighbouring double bell frame offer different ways to explore the area. Local traditions at Easter and Christmas, as well as historic landscape names, add to the picture. If you are considering Elsloo as a place to stay, this mix can help you decide which interests will shape your visit.

Landscape and nature around Elsloo

The Schaopedobbe is a 110-hectare heathland area. Its landscape includes boggy areas, wind-blown sand and woodland. It is also home to a diverse range of flora and fauna: the area provides a habitat for rare plants, reptiles and amphibians, and is home to numerous bird species. Its size and varied landscape features provide a concrete setting for exploring nature, while the information about its species adds an ecological perspective.

The name Schaopedobbe comes from a watering place where sheep used to be washed before their annual shearing. The name therefore refers to an earlier use, while the area today is described as heathland, bog, wind-blown sand and woodland. The Schaopedobbe is easy to reach on foot from Elsloo. The Drents-Friese Wold National Park is also within cycling distance of Elsloo. The Schaopedobbe is easy to reach on foot from Elsloo; the Drents-Friese Wold National Park is within cycling distance from there.

Village history and buildings

Elsloo was founded in the 11th century as a village that was originally agricultural in character. The village was laid out along two parallel streets. Its origins and settlement pattern provide a historical context distinct from the nature themes of the Schaopedobbe: here, the focus is on how the village began and how it was laid out.

Another story is told by the Tjasker Vesuvius, also known as Stobbepoel. It was built in the late 19th century, rediscovered in 1978 and subsequently restored. Its function is also documented: the tjasker serves as a drainage mill for the De Stobbepoel nature reserve. Its construction, rediscovery and restoration are distinct milestones; the mill’s function connects it to the nature reserve.

Two neighbouring structures are of interest at the church: the double bell frame known as “Dubbele klokkenstoel bij Kerk” stands beside a hall church with a flat-ended chancel. The church was built in 1913, is a national monument (Rijksmonument), and features Art Nouveau elements and stained-glass windows. Visitors interested in architectural history can therefore explore both the bell frame and the church’s features.

Traditions and landscape names

Two annual traditions in Elsloo take place on different holidays. The Easter bonfire (paasbult) is lit on Easter Sunday, while the annual Kerstkuier takes place on Christmas Day. If you would like to fit these events into your travel plans, you can distinguish between the two traditions by their respective holidays.

Waterways and field names also add to the picture of the local landscape’s history. The Riete is a tributary of the Linde and bordered the hay meadows west of Elsloo. The name Horstlaan comes from a plot of land beside the Riete that once stood slightly higher than its surroundings. Its vegetation differed from that of the surrounding marshland. The two names therefore refer to different aspects of the landscape: the Riete is connected with the Linde and the hay meadows, while the explanation of Horstlaan concerns a former plot of land and its distinctive location.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Langedijke, Waskemeer, Ravenswoud, Donkerbroek, Haule, Oldeberkoop, Fochteloo and Appelscha.

Go to the main travel overview: Ooststellingwerf.