Discover Houwerzijl: Tea Culture and History

Houwerzijl brings together tea culture and the history of the village and its landscape. De Theefabriek, Olle Weem and the routes in the Speelbos offer different ways to explore the area. If you’re looking for a hotel in Houwerzijl, these themes can help you plan your trip around the places and activities that interest you.

Tea Museum and Tea Room at De Theefabriek

From April to October, De Theefabriek is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00. Check the opening hours before you arrive. The Theemuseum presents the history of tea in a series of theatrical settings, from the tea plant to drinking tea. The tour follows tea from cultivation through preparation to being enjoyed in a cup.

The Theeschenkerij serves more than 300 types of tea and tea specialities. These include handmade pastries, warm scones, muffins, spiced tea cake and generously filled sandwiches. Tea tastings explain different varieties and preparation methods; depending on the theme, you’ll taste five to eight teas. The tea selection and food menu may change. Tasting themes and conditions may also vary, so it’s worth checking the current selection in advance.

Church and Rectory Put to New Use

A church for the Separatists was built in Houwerzijl in 1862; it was renovated and extended in 1906 and 1915. The former church and the neoclassical rectory, built in 1870, now house the tea museum and tea room. The historic architecture provides a setting for the tea-themed visit. De Theefabriek’s more recent history is also part of the village: in 1989, it was bought for the symbolic sum of one guilder, equivalent to 45 euro cents.

Olle Weem and the Lost Village of Vliedorp

Olle Weem lies north of Houwerzijl, beside the cycle route between Houwerzijl and Vlakke Riet road. On part of a raised dwelling mound, the site preserves twelve gravestones and several trees; they are remnants of the vanished village of Vliedorp. The cemetery is open from sunrise to sunset. A visit here offers a glimpse of a landscape where visible remains and local history come together.

Around 1200, a stone church was built in Vliedorp, probably on the site of an earlier wooden church. During the Christmas flood of 1717, 32 houses were destroyed there and 48 people were killed. Until the 20th century, funeral processions from Houwerzijl took the deceased by water to the deserted dwelling mound. The “Verhalen van het zoute land” walking route also describes Houwerzijl as a village that once lay in salty land right by the sea. This refers to the area’s former landscape, not its present-day coastal location.

Walking Routes, Cycling Routes and the Speelbos

De Theefabriek has developed the four-kilometre “ommeTje Vliedorp / Olle Weem” walking route in the immediate surroundings of Houwerzijl. The “Verhalen van het zoute land” walking route starts and ends at De Theefabriek and includes Vliedorp, Zwarteweg 8, 9973 PM Houwerzijl, as a named stop. De Theefabriek is also on listed cycling routes and can serve as their starting point or a stop along the way. Route information may be updated; check the details before setting off on a walk or cycle ride.

The Speelbos Houwerzijl combines an ecologically designed and managed woodland with several walking paths, a play meadow and a number of sturdy play structures. De Ui is a public fire pit at the boundary between the woodland and the play meadow. The Theefabriek has a spacious private car park; check the latest visitor information before you arrive, as facilities may change.

Discover more destinations: Eenrum, Wehe-Den Hoorn, Kloosterburen, Lauwersoog, Hornhuizen, Leens, Westernieland, Vierhuizen.

For the broader travel overview: De Marne.