The canals passed through farming areas and small towns. I would love to know how many water craft are owned by Netherlanders but as they are not registered here I don’t suppose there are any records.
Just after leaving the lake we went over this aquaduct. The drivers must have some interesting sights as they drive along this highway.
Waterfront homes had lovely gardens and of course some type of boat.
This one had a full sized pink cow as a garden decoration, the owner must have a milk fetish.
This one loved horses
For boat owners without a water frontage, water garages were also popular.
We cruised as far as Oldeboorn, where the canal winds through this picturesque town with 4 small hand operated bridges which are opened by a keeper for a brugeld (fee).
Next stop Dokkum
Dokkum is a very old town first mentioned around the 900. It was first started as a turpin made by heaping animal dung and vegetation onto the soil to build the turpin high enough to escape the rising water. There are quite a few turpin towns in Friesland recognised now by part of the town being on the top of a hill which is very different to the usual flat landscape of most dutch towns. On the way we saw this alternative to holidaying in a boat.
We just love wandering through these towns which have so much history. A small canal runs through the centre of the old town.
Kevin was very interested in this building which was on a lean.
A larger canal follows where the original moat was when it was a fortified town.
We moored right in town.
While here we met some interesting people who were in wheelchairs and sailing on a 'Lutgerdina' a converted Clipper. An organisation, NebasNsg, runs active sailing holidays for handicapped people and the boat is accessible for people who use a wheelchair. The ship is equipped with handicap accommodation and the guests help with the day to day sailing along with volunteer helpers.
This is Lutgerdina in full sail. What an exciting holiday it must be. Check it out on www.lutgerdina.nl
While out riding our bikes we came across this unusual church, St Boniface built in the round and open to the sky. What a lovely place it was.
Lauwersmeer
While in Dokkum we had a day trip on a tourist boat Silverwind out onto the Lauwersmeer through the lock into the Wadden Zee to the small island of Schiermonnikoog in the North Sea.
The Lauwersmeer is a huge inlet which was originally directly connected to the sea. When a dyke was built the seawater gradually became fresh.
We passed through countryside rich in birdlife and also saw a herd of wild polish horses which live on an island in the lake.
A lot of boats enter into the Netherlands through here from Denmark. Fishing fleets from Scandinavian countries as well as the Netherlands use the port on the ocean side of the lock.
Huge sluice gates are also located here to help empty excess water from heavy rain in the Netherlands.
Schiermonnikoog Island
After going through the lock we crossed over to Schiermonnikoog. The island is a popular holiday spot on the North Sea. I am not sure of how many days they get in summer to swim but we did notice a lifesaver outlook post when we visited the beach. The island also has a lovely red lighthouse quite a contrast to the usual white ones we see here in Australia.
The North Sea was somewhere out there.
It was time to leave Dokkum for Leeuwarden to pick up Diane and Arthur who were coming to visit us.
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