Scharnegoutum: Art, History and Waterways

Scharnegoutum brings together church and monastery history, places of remembrance, art, and water and nature themes. If you are looking for a hotel in Scharnegoutum, these highlights can help you choose a destination: points of interest include historic buildings and monuments as well as routes along the Zwette and natural areas. You can therefore tailor your focus on cultural history, waterways and landscapes to your travel interests.

Church and Places of Remembrance

The Martenskerk stands in the centre of Scharnegoutum and is a Rijksmonument (national heritage site). One of the reasons for its listed status is its one-manual organ. P. J. Radersma of Wommels made it in 1842. The church and its organ history offer a tangible insight into the village’s historic heritage.

The war memorial stands near the cemetery at the corner of De Terp/Achterbuorren. It commemorates six local residents who died in acts of war in 1945. The memorial’s form makes it a distinctive marker of remembrance: a brick column is topped by two stainless-steel flames with a cross cut out between them. Here, the memory of those affected stands alongside the design of the memorial.

Monastery History, Art and Historic Routes

The artwork “De nonnen fan it Nijkleaster” stands on the left before the bridge over the Swette in Scharnegoutum. It commemorates the women’s monastery of Auladei or Nijkleaster, built in 1233 on the edge of what was then the Middelzee. The monastery was closed in 1580, after the States of Fryslân banned the practice of the Catholic religion. Its story thus spans the monastery’s construction and the religious changes that preceded its closure.

A cultural and historical route also passes through Scharnegoutum: the SSHUW Route runs along Pôle, Legedyk and Swettewei. The Legedyk was the first dike line to close off the Middelzee at the beginning of the 12th century. The “Tolhuis 1823” also forms part of the village’s history: it is a white house to the left of the bridge over the Swette. It is one of the tollhouses that the municipality of Sneek had built and leased in 1823. The municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân aims to promote and preserve the distinctive character and strength of village centres such as Scharnegoutum.

The Zwette, Routes and Landscape

The Zwette connects Sneek and Leeuwarden and is an important part of the Middelzee Route. The Elfstedentocht also passes directly through Scharnegoutum via the Zwette. Another combined boating, canoeing and SUP route, about 20 kilometres long, runs from Sneek via Tirns, Reahus, Rien and Boazum to Scharnegoutum, then returns to Sneek via the Zwette.

The cycling art route has a different focus: it leads to public artworks in Sneek and the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân. The two routes therefore differ in both mode of transport and destination: one is a combined tour on the water, while the other is a cycling route with art destinations. This gives you a practical basis for deciding whether to focus your trip on waterways or on art and cycling.

The De Flearen nature reserve lies north of Scharnegoutum. It can be reached via the Alddyk, a cycle path and three blue bridges. As route conditions can change, it is best to check them before visiting. The landscape at De Flearen includes a wetland area created, among other things, for meadow birds. Nearby, the area also has an information board, benches, a picnic table and a house martin tower. Meadow birds and house martins are two distinct nature themes.

An information board at the Oer`t Lange Rek nature reserve also provides information about the area and the history of its surroundings. Together with the sites along the Zwette and the historic routes, Scharnegoutum offers a range of options for a trip centred on cultural history, nature or routes.

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