Garnwerd on the Reitdiep

Garnwerd lies on the Reitdiep, which connects the city of Groningen with the Wadden Sea. The Reitdiep is also a popular water route: from the city of Groningen, you can reach picturesque villages such as Garnwerd and Zoutkamp along it. The village can therefore be seen both as a riverside village and as part of a larger water connection. Garnwerd aan Zee has its own harbour with permanent berths for visiting boats; availability may vary. The restaurant serves food and drinks on one of its waterside terraces. As service details may change, check the current offerings before your visit.

Church and culture in Garnwerd

Kerk Garnwerd was built at the end of the 13th century. Its south wall still has an original low window with old stained glass. This surviving detail adds a specific architectural perspective to the context provided by the building’s age. For more than 30 years, the church has served as a venue for concerts, poetry evenings, theatre performances and exhibitions. At Te Gast In Garnwerd, events take place in the church and in the houses around it. Culture lovers can thus explore both the church’s architectural features and its cultural use.

Windmill and historical traces

The present-day De Meeuw smock mill was built as a grain and barley-peeling mill after its predecessor burned down in 1850. The mill is often operating at weekends, provided volunteer helpers are available. It attracts visitors who want to enjoy the view from the gallery. If you plan to visit the mill, check whether it is currently operating; its reliance on volunteers is relevant.

Garnwerd’s history is also reflected in other buildings and details. Café Bij Hammingh is housed in a former ferry house, which is protected as a Rijksmonument. In front of number 26 in Garnwerd, the blacksmith’s old millstone is still set into the street paving; the building formerly housed a smithy and a bakery. Burgemeester Brouwerstraat is considered the narrowest street in the Netherlands accessible to cars.

Walking and winter activities

The long-distance Pieterpad hiking trail passes through Garnwerd and runs from Pieterburen in Groningen to Sint-Pietersberg in Maastricht. This is a different kind of travel connection from the Reitdiep: here, it is a long-distance walking route, while the Reitdiep is a popular water route. A walk starting in Garnwerd takes you through the lively wierd village on the Reitdiep, which retains a 19th-century atmosphere despite all the changes.

When there is a proper winter, you can go ice skating at Garnwerd’s skating rink. The skating club maintains the rink and provides music and steaming koek-en-zopie. Whether this activity is possible during your trip depends on there being real winter ice.

Discover more destinations: Saaxumhuizen, Adorp, Baflo, Winsum, Tinallinge, Rasquert.

Go to the main travel overview: Winsum.