Oldetrijne: Church, Cemetery and Local History

Historical landmarks in Oldetrijne include the Reformed church, the cemetery at Kerkhofslaan 20, a former joint school and a sign with old field names. They are joined by the St. Jabikspaed pilgrimage trail and the Gapenburg cycle route. Their descriptions identify different types of routes and route features. When planning your trip, you can distinguish between architectural and village history and the different routes.

Church and architectural history

The Reformed church in Oldetrijne was built in 1870 to replace a church dating from 1794. The two years therefore mark the earlier church and its later replacement. The present church is a single-storey building beneath a roof and has a 3/6 chancel termination. A small turret with an octagonal spire stands at the front of the roof. The 3/6 notation specifies the shape of the chancel termination; the turret adds a distinct feature to the roof design. The location is also easy to pinpoint: the church stands directly beside the road and is visible from the public road.

Cemetery and historical traces

The cemetery at Kerkhofslaan 20 is of heritage value because of its ensemble with the village church. Trees line the grounds. A circular gravel path runs around the cemetery, and another gravel path leads to the mortuary. Many authentic gravestones have been preserved. Both the connection with the church and the cemetery’s design are relevant to understanding the site: the gravestones, paths and tree-lined setting are all specific features of the grounds. If you are interested in cemetery culture, you will find a distinct historical point of interest here, alongside the architectural history of the church.

The history of the school also connects Oldetrijne with Sonnega. The joint school “De Lantscheene” was built in 1835 for both villages, on the site where the public primary school stands today. The school’s former shared purpose and its present-day location can thus be considered together as a local history detail. An information sign with old field names from both villages adds to this perspective. It was installed as a tourist attraction near the village centre and the church in Oldetrijne. The sign makes the inherited field names another subject in the local history.

Pilgrimage trail and cycle route

The type of route is a clear distinction when choosing a route. The St. Jabikspaed pilgrimage trail passes through Sonnega, Meenthe, Sasweg and Gapenburg, and crosses a ferry to Oldemarkt. If you plan to take this route during your trip, check the ferry timetable. The Gapenburg cycle route runs along the Linde in Sonnega/Oldetrijne, from Sasbrug to Linthorst Homansluis. This lock was formerly called Driewegsluis. The two routes therefore have different profiles: the description of the St. Jabikspaed includes named places along the way and a ferry crossing, while the Gapenburg route is defined by the river and the stretch between the bridge and the lock.

Another historical point of interest lies in the area around Oldetrijne: a beach at Sas on the Linde river was restored in 2013. This adds a dated event from the surrounding area to the local history. You can distinguish it geographically from Oldetrijne’s historical architectural and local features.

Discover more destinations: Scherpenzeel, Munnekeburen, Oldeholtpade, Wolvega, Zandhuizen, Nijeholtpade, Blesdijke, Noordwolde

For the wider travel overview: Weststellingwerf.