Tytsjerksteradiel: Water Landscapes and Frisian Heritage

Water and landscape shape many experiences in Tytsjerksteradiel: the municipality offers opportunities for water sports, hiking and cycling. At the same time, wetlands and lakes meet the diverse cultural landscape of the Noardlike Fryske Wâlden. When planning your hotel stay, you can consider which excursions you want to focus on: nature and activities around Earnewâld, or cultural attractions such as museums, churches and historic parks.

Waterways, Routes and Wetlands

The village of Earnewâld and De Alde Feanen National Park form the municipality’s tourist hub. The national park offers opportunities for boating, hiking, cycling and birdwatching; excursions and cruises are also available. The information centre in Earnewâld provides information about routes, nature and activities and is a starting point for walks and boat trips. As opening hours vary by season, it is a good idea to check visiting hours before your trip.

The “Rondje Alde Feanen” boating route, at 31.4 kilometres, is listed as a way to explore the area by water. The “Fietsen langs het water” cycling route is listed as 39.7 kilometres long. A shorter route in Earnewâld, “Earnewâld: toeristisch hart van De Alde Feanen”, is 5.5 kilometres long. It passes through the 40 Mêd area, along the open waterway Lange Sleat and past a meadow-bird area. Check the latest route information before setting off.

40 Mêd is a wet peatland. Reeds define much of the landscape, while water-filled peat-cutting ditches recall the area’s peat extraction. Characteristic birds include the bittern, bearded reedling and reed warbler. The seasons are also part of nature watching: a polder beside the route near Earnewâld serves as a breeding ground for meadow birds in spring. Broad reed beds and marshes alternate along the freshwater lake Burgumer Mar. Water and marsh birds such as the bittern, bearded reedling and great egret can be spotted there, although individual sightings are not guaranteed.

De Leijen, a shallow lake in many places formed by peat extraction, and the nature area at Bûtenfjild near Gytsjerk, with its swamp forests, peatlands, reeds and fallow land, offer other landscapes to explore. The De Leijen–De Putten observation tower stands on an old pumping station. At Vijversburg Park, walking paths and historic park features combine with art, culture and adventure across more than 30 hectares. The Frijlân area is specially designed for children: it has a water play area and a water maze that can be explored by raft.

Crafts, Museums and Frisian History

The Skûtsjemuseum in Earnewâld focuses on the lives of earlier generations of skûtsje skippers. The museum also showcases traditional boatbuilding crafts, including blacksmithing and sailmaking. Scherjon’s Klompenmuseum offers another perspective on living craft traditions: visitors can look directly into the workshop and watch a sixth-generation clog maker at work. The exhibition explores the history of the oldest Dutch shoes and includes a collection of foreign wooden shoes.

The Fierljepmuseum in Noardburgum tells the story of fierljeppen and its development, a traditional Frisian pole-vaulting sport. At the Fierljeppolder near Burgum, you can learn more about it and try the sport yourself; check the current participation requirements in advance. In Burgum, Museum & Sterrenwacht Burgum combines a museum and an observatory with a planetarium. The It Kokelhûs fan Jan en Sjut Museum, meanwhile, is housed in a home built in 1777 by a peat entrepreneur. Particularly evocative is the parlour, furnished entirely in the style of the early 20th century, with tiled walls and two box beds.

The churches, too, preserve different chapters of local history. The nave and chancel of St Vitus’ Church in Wyns were built around 1200 from red monastery bricks—unusual for the period. Inside, a wooden barrel vault dating from the 16th century and an organ from 1899 have been preserved. St Paul’s Church in Aldtsjerk dates from the mid-12th century; its well-preserved interior includes a pulpit from 1630 and the Sminiabank. In Earnewâld, the former Reformed church dates from 1906 and has been the Protestantse Kerk Gemeente Earnewâld since 2018. Its pulpit is shaped like the bow of a Frisian skûtsje.

Places and Routes to Discover

The “Musea en natuur in Burgum & Noardburgum” route is 10.5 kilometres long and follows old paths through natural and forested areas of the Noardlike Fryske Wâlden. Around Oentsjerk, Stania State offers walks in the park as well as scenic cycling routes in the surrounding area. The old park around Heemstra State in Oentsjerk remains accessible; long avenues, old trees and the former gardener’s house are part of its character.

Near Gytsjerk, the Elfstedentocht memorial Tegeltjesbrug commemorates the famous skating race. Maree Blok and Bas Lugthart designed the bridge; thousands of handmade tiles depict skaters who once took part in the Elfstedentocht. The fixed Kanterland Bridge at Tegeltjesbrug is also a landmark for boaters: its clearance height is 2.5 metres. A sloop, SUP, canoe or boat with its mast lowered can pass underneath. Water levels and operating conditions may vary.

There are several stork nests in Earnewâld; storks have been reintroduced there and their population increased since the 1980s. If you’re looking for another nature route, De Alde Feanen National Park also has the Mindfulness Route through It Wikelsân. It has been open to the public since May 2025; seasonal access rules may change.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Ryptsjerk, Aldtsjerk, Hardegarijp, Sumar, Noardburgum, Burgum, Jistrum, Wyns, Eernewoude, Oostermeer.

For the main travel overview: Friesland.