Waskemeer: Hiking and Local History

Waskemeer combines hiking trails with a rich local history. A stage of the Groot-Frieslandpad leads here from Beetsterzwaag; other routes differ in their landscapes and courses. There is also an archaeological site, a monument and recurring events. You can therefore plan your stay around a specific hike, historical connections or an event date.

Hiking: routes with different courses

The 14th stage of the Groot-Frieslandpad covers 24.2 kilometres from Beetsterzwaag to Waskemeer. This distance refers to the entire stage between these two places. Both the start and finish points and the route length are therefore specified for this section.

The Swalkroute Waskemeer passes through meadows, the Duurswouderheide and the village of Waskemeer. Shortly before leaving the heath, it runs alongside the Waskemar. The Duurswouderheide covers 150 hectares and is considered the largest heathland area in the province of Friesland. The Swalkroute therefore focuses on a succession of different landscapes.

The Bauernlandweg Waskemeer runs through the lands of the Janssen-Stichting and connects Haulerwijk with Wijnjewoude. Check current trail conditions before setting out. The three route descriptions can be distinguished by their different focuses: the Groot-Frieslandpad stage specifies a total distance and two endpoints, the Swalkroute its succession of landscapes, and the Bauernlandweg the connection between two places.

Place name and historical traces

The Waskmar pond gave Waskemeer its name. The village was previously called Haulerwijk-Beneden and was granted the status of an independent village in 1954. The current name and the former village name are specific starting points for understanding Waskemeer's local history.

The Simon van Hasselt memorial is a marble plaque bearing an inscription. It commemorates the deportation of the Jewish Van Hasselt family. The Waskemeer – Haule II archaeological site contains traces of settlement from the Mesolithic period. The two historical connections are clearly distinct: one concerns the remembrance of a family's deportation, the other traces of human settlement from the Mesolithic period.

Events and when to visit

Poptimaal is a music festival held annually in Waskemeer for young and old alike. The festival includes a run for both age groups. The municipality's 2025 description presents Poptimaal as an event featuring music, sports and games.

De Beer van Waskemeer is held on the last Saturday of the school holidays. Check the specific date before your trip. This distinction is useful when planning: Poptimaal takes place annually, while De Beer is tied to the school holiday calendar.

You can choose the focus of your trip: a named hiking stage, a route through meadows, heathland and village, historical points of interest or an event date. If you take the Bauernlandweg, you should also check current trail conditions.

Discover more destinations: Elsloo, Donkerbroek, Langedijke, Oosterwolde, Fochteloo, Nijeberkoop, Ravenswoud, Appelscha

For the wider travel overview: Ooststellingwerf.