Holiday apartment in Echten: Water, Culture and Trails
Accommodation in Echten
Holidays in Echten are all about water, remembrance, and movement. The Tjeukemeer, known in Frisian and officially as Tsjûkemar, is the largest lake in Friesland.
File:Netherlands, Echten, historic pumping station.jpg
Photo: Vincent van Zeijst via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Holiday apartment in Echten: Water, Culture and Trails
On the southern shore of the Tjeukemeer, Gemaal Echten is located along the walking and cycling path over the dike and offers views across the lake. Gemaal Echten was built in 1913 to drain the large Veenpolder van Echten and was designated a protected monument in 2001. Also along the walking and cycling path on the southern shore stands the Tsjûke & Marchje statue next to the former steam pumping station in Echten. According to the legend associated with the statue, the two sisters once jointly owned a farm at a location that is now in the Tjeukemeer.
Laurenskerk and Stories from Echten
The Dutch Reformed St. Laurentius Church in Echten, its churchyard, and its entrance gate are protected as Rijksmonuments. Laurenskerk was originally built around the year 1245; a church tower was added to its western side in 1879. The church contains an organ from 1871, built by the firm L. Van Dam en Zonen.
The monument “Het kind is er nog” is a bronze sculpture of a standing woman with a child hiding behind her. It honors Frisian foster parents who provided safe accommodation for hundreds of Jewish children during the Second World War. Rinne yn Frijheid also explores a historical theme: the freedom walk in and around Echten conveys the atmosphere of difficult-to-access paths that provided shelter to people in hiding during the Second World War.
Cycling and Walking Routes around the Tsjûkemar
The Kulturele Rûte Tsjûkemar is a cycling and walking route of around 30 kilometers around the Tsjûkemar. It passes works of art and historic sites and runs through distinctive landscapes. The route begins at Laurenskerk in Echten. Another option is De Tsjûkemar by del, a permanent QR trail that you can follow by bicycle or on foot.
The approximately 30 kilometers of the Kulturele Rûte Tsjûkemar provide a clear framework for planning the day. When cycling and walking, the distance can be divided into stages; breaks can be taken according to your own pace. Starting at Laurenskerk in Echten provides the circular route with a clear starting point when planning a day at the lake.
Landscape Features in the Wider Region
In the wider region around Echten are the landscape formations Lange Warren, Rakkenpolle, Leijepolle, and Rookoepolle, which are designated as islands. De Nieuwe Aanleg is located in the vicinity of Echten and is designated as a park. Krolsbergen is located in the wider region around Echten and is also designated as a park. De Regenboog is a church in the wider region around Echten; Vermaning gemeente Sneek is likewise one of the churches in this area.
Further places for regional orientation: Lemmer, Follega, Delfstrahuizen, Bantega.
For the overarching travel overview: Lemsterland.
