Rasquert – a wierde village with a historic layout

Rasquert is a wierde village built on a raised mound created by people to protect against flooding. Its medieval layout is particularly well preserved: the street plan resembles a wheel, with roads like spokes leading to the highest point of the wierde. This gives the village a distinctive historic character. When choosing a destination, two related themes stand out: the history of the wierde and walking trails that pass through Rasquert or the Baflo–Rasquert area.

The wierde as a landscape and settlement form

About half of the wierde was excavated in the early 20th century; the remaining landscape still recalls its history. During the excavation, the farm ’t Olhof was left as a small relic on an island. A walking trail follows the course of the wierde’s old ring road. This trail also makes the former ring road the subject of a walk.

Buildings, gardens, and farm complexes

The Meyma complex lies on the edge of the wierde, probably on the site of a former borg. It consists of a villa-style farm and an ornamental garden, and is associated with the adjacent villa at Meijmaweg 2. The garden at Meijmaweg 2 has a landscaped design that probably dates from around 1926. The former mayor’s villa at Meijmaweg 2 dates from 1868.

The farms can also be classified by type. Asinga is a Hoekplaats-type farm; its barn façade is well preserved and dated. Almaheerdt is a Kop-Hals-Romp-type farm. At Meijemaweg 21 stands a listed building dating from 1864. It was formerly used as an inn and grocery store and is now a residence.

Walking trails and the connection with Baflo

Baflo is also a point of reference in the village’s history: Rasquert never had its own church, so residents went to nearby Baflo. One specific walking option is the approximately 5 km Toalroute. It starts at the Dorpshuis in Baflo and passes through Rasquert. Signs bearing poems in Gronings, also known as Grunnegers, are posted at several points. If you would like to include the regional language in your walk, this route offers a clear opportunity to do so.

Another option is the 4 km walking route “In de voetsporen van Agricola,” which includes a stop at the wierde village of Rasquert. At 4 km, the Agricola Route is shorter than the approximately 5 km Toalroute and explicitly lists Rasquert as a stop; the Toalroute has a linguistic focus, with its poetry signs. The Baflo–Rasquert area is also connected to numerous walking and cycling routes. As route conditions can change, check the current route before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Tinallinge, Winsum, Adorp, Baflo, Garnwerd, Saaxumhuizen

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