Eernewoude: Nature, water sports and history

Eernewoude (Earnewâld) is a water sports village in the heart of De Alde Feanen National Park. For local orientation, the National Park information point is located in the centre of the village. Hiking and cycling routes are available there. The starting point for a canoe route in the De Alde Feanen area is also in the centre of Earnewâld. This gives you a choice of different routes and ways to get around as you explore.

Nature and trails in De Alde Feanen

The national park covers around 425 hectares of water; it is also home to more than 450 different plant species. De Alde Feanen is particularly well suited to exploring by boat. Several walking trails around Earnewâld lead to birdwatching hides and observation towers. Excursions with a nature guide from It Fryske Gea are also offered in the national park.

It Wikelslân is a wetland with alder carr forests, reed beds, peat cuttings and narrow strips of land. These landscape features give the area a different character from the national park’s open water. If you are interested in nature and landscapes, the information about De Alde Feanen offers both extensive areas of water and a variety of plant and wetland landscapes.

Cycling through the region

The 45-kilometre De pontjesroute passes through the national park and over the island of De Bird towards Grou. It then runs via Akkrum, Pean and De Veenhoop back to Earnewâld. Four ferries are used along the way. The route combines a longer cycle ride with several ferry crossings; its length and course give you specific points of reference for planning your own trip, without specifying a particular travel time.

Shipping history and local remembrance

The Skûtsjemuseum Earnewâld is dedicated to the lives of earlier generations of skûtsje sailors. The traditional shipbuilding crafts featured at the museum include blacksmithing and sailmaking. A replica of a wooden skûtsje from 1861 lies at the quay. Together, the museum’s themes and the boat connect the sailors’ way of life with the craftwork involved in building a ship.

Local memorial sites also focus on different aspects of remembrance. De Zwaluwhaven has 251 nesting openings; twelve of them remain closed and symbolise the number of aircraft that did not return. Behind the Skûtsjemuseum in Earnewâld, an exhibition can be seen about an excavated aircraft and the story of its final flight.

The churches are notable for their architectural history and pulpits: the Nederlands Hervormde Kerk in Earnewâld was built in 1794. Its pulpit dates from 1699 and bears the coat of arms of Earnewâld. The Gereformeerde Kerk was built in 1906; its pulpit is shaped like the bow of a skûtsje. The details are markedly different: a coat of arms on an older pulpit in one church, the shape of a ship’s bow in the other.

Water sports and winter

Earnewâld is known as a true skating village. Its sheltered, water-rich surroundings are ideal for skating on natural ice in winter. For a stay focused on winter activities, this connection with natural ice is a distinctive part of the village’s character. Earnewâld also has a beach with a large recreation area. Both winter ice skating and a bathing area are therefore among the activities on offer in the village.

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

For the main travel overview: Tytsjerksteradiel.