Holiday apartment in Harich: Nature, culture and riding trails
Accommodation in Harich
A holiday apartment in Harich is a suitable starting point for anyone who wants to combine cultural history, woodland nature, water experiences or equestrian activities during their holiday. The church of Harich, Harichsterbos and Wyldemerk each add a very different emphasis. For families, this combination offers scope for both short discoveries and an extended day on trails, by the water or with horses.
Culture at the Church of Harich
The Church of Harich dates from the 12th century and was put back into use after its reconstruction in 1663. On its simply designed southern façade, a memorial stone decorated with eagles and cornucopias stands out. The elevated churchyard also has distinctive details: it is surrounded by a wall with cast-iron grilles.
On the eastern side of the church lies the crypt of the Van Swinderen family. The ensemble also includes a Neoclassical tomb monument with a white marble sarcophagus, inscriptions and names such as Ulbo Aylva Rengers. Anyone interested in regional history, architecture and the traces left by former families will find several specific details here that can be viewed at leisure.
Forests, avenues and wildlife observation
Harichsterbos lies south of Harich and southwest of Balk. Its distinctive features include its parterre layout and avenues that shape the area’s cultural history. A one-kilometre-long lime-tree avenue runs along the southwestern side. Animals found in the forest include roe deer, badgers and stone martens. An old Tsjerkepaed runs along its northeastern side from Harich.
The trails and avenues particularly appeal to visitors who want not merely to pass through a landscape, but to perceive its structures and natural inhabitants. When planning a trip to a holiday apartment in Harich, this focus can be just as important as deciding whether the holiday should be shaped more by culture, wildlife observation or physical activity.
Water and dragonflies at Wyldemerk
The Wyldemerk nature reserve is characterised by several large pools and ponds surrounded by unspoilt, wooded nature. You can travel on the water in a sloop, canoe or small cabin cruiser. At the same time, Wyldemerk is not suitable for swimming—it therefore represents a different kind of water experience from a traditional day at the beach or swimming spot.
From spring until late summer, up to 40 species of dragonfly can be observed there. Wyldemerk is regarded as Europe’s first official dragonfly reserve. This creates a clear theme for holiday days centred on wildlife observation, a waterside landscape and peaceful discovery.
Riding experiences and routes
Manege Gaasterland has numerous facilities for riders, horse-drawn carriage drivers and horses. Horses or ponies are not rented there; you can only arrive with your own horses or ponies. The large paved car park is connected by a bridge to more than 30 kilometres of riding trails. The Ruiterroute Gaasterland west is also accessible to horse-drawn carriages.
The complete Ruiterroute Gaasterland oost takes around two hours at a walking pace before returning to the riding centre. The different route lengths make it possible to plan a more active or more extended day. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home in Harich, you can therefore first decide whether your holiday days should be shaped more by the church, the forest, Wyldemerk or equestrian activities.
Further places to include in your plans
If you would like to include other places in addition to Harich, you will find Rijs, Wijckel, Oudemirdum, Sleat, Balk and Sondel here.
For the overarching travel overview: Gaasterlân-Sleat.
