Discover Saaxumhuizen

Saaxumhuizen brings together a history of medieval settlement, church architecture, and specific ways to explore the surrounding area by bike or on foot. When planning a hotel stay, these topics offer different points of reference: the churches date from several historical periods, while the routes vary in activity, length, and trail surface. This lets you focus your trip on cultural history, a cycling route, or a hike.

Settlement History and Sea Dike

Saaxumhuizen originated in the Middle Ages as a terp village at the fork of Dikemaweg (also known as Saaxumhuizerweg) and Nienhuisweg. There were also two house mounds there, which were later incorporated into the early sea dike. The village’s origins at the junction and the later incorporation of the mounds into the sea dike belong to different stages in the history of the settlement and landscape. This connects settlement development with the coastal landscape without placing both events in the same period.

Churches and Organ

The Jacobus Church was built as early as the 13th century. Its organ was built by Petrus van Oeckelen and completed in September 1851. The Dutch Reformed Church is a medieval building with a rectangular east end; its tower dates from 1858. This gives three distinct dates for placing the buildings in their cultural and historical context: the construction of the Jacobus Church, the completion of its organ, and the tower dating from 1858. Comparing the dates helps distinguish the construction of the church from the creation of its organ.

Cycling and Hiking Routes

For cycling trips, the 41-kilometre Westelijke Hogeland cycling route is a clear point of reference: it runs via Oudeweg to Saaxumhuizen, where you can start the route. The “Van haver tot gort op het Hogeland” route also passes through Saaxumhuizen. The two descriptions indicate different roles for the village: Westelijke Hogeland is identified as a possible starting point, while “Van haver tot gort op het Hogeland” is described as passing through the village. You can therefore consider the routes in terms of their length and how Saaxumhuizen fits into each one.

The local walking network also offers different details to help you choose a route. Saaxumhuizen is part of four walking routes. The 16-kilometre Warffum–Baflo walking route heads south to Saaxumhuizen; from the village onward, it runs mostly beneath trees. Here, you can consider the total distance, the direction of the route, and the character of the landscape together. All of the local walking routes except the third can also be used as cycling routes. The third has relatively long unpaved sections, making it the exception for combined use. As route and surface conditions can change seasonally, check the latest route information before setting out. For comparison, the distances are 41 kilometres for a cycling route and 16 kilometres for a walking route; the figures refer to different types of trips.

Nearby, the “Weed villages and Wadden Sea coast” cycling route runs from Westernieland towards the Wadden Sea, a unique and species-rich natural area.

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

Go to the main travel overview: Winsum.