Grou: Water, Tradition and Cultural Heritage

Grou appeals to a range of interests when planning a trip: activities on the water, nature, hiking and cycling, as well as local history. When considering the village as a destination, you can think about which of these themes you want to shape your trip most. Grou offers specific starting points for this decision—from access to the national park and waterways and routes to local traditions and museums.

Water, Nature and the Island of De Burd

Grou is a gateway to De Alde Feanen National Park and a starting point for cyclists, hikers and water sports enthusiasts. The Pikmar, also known as Pikmeer, borders Grou. From there, visitors can explore other Frisian lakes by boat. The first SKS Skûtsjesilen races of the year traditionally take place on the Pikmar near Grou.

In Grou, you can enjoy activities on the water in a sloop, on a SUP board or in a sailboat. The De Burd ferry runs between Grou and the island of De Burd. On the island, visitors can hike, enjoy water sports or relax. Check the ferry timetable before planning your trip, as schedules may change.

The different connections to the water help with planning your outings: the Pikmar is the setting for boat trips to other lakes and the start of the races; on De Burd, hiking and relaxation complement the water sports options.

Sint Piter and Grou’s Cultural Heritage

Sint Piter’s birthday is celebrated in Grou on 21 February. In 2018, the Sint Piter festival was added to the Inventory of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Netherlands. The two dates serve different purposes: 21 February is the date of the festival, while 2018 is the year it was added to the inventory.

There are also different ways to consider the Rijksmonumenten (national heritage monuments): there are more than 43 in and around the village. The “Paad troch ‘Grou’” walking route passes 21 beautiful, old and numerous Rijksmonumenten. This lets you focus either on a specific route or on the collection of monuments in and around the village.

The Hert fan Fryslân Museum is located on the ground floor of the former town hall at Stationsweg 1 in Grou. Among other local topics, the museum explores the waterways around Grou. Water is therefore not only part of activities and outings, but also a subject of the local museum’s exhibits.

Another historical point of interest is the former command post in Grou. It officially opened for operation in 1967 and is now part of a museum that preserves the heritage of the organisation established to protect the population during the Cold War.

Routes and Getting Your Bearings

One cycling route is 45 kilometres long and follows a figure-eight shape. The “Paad troch ‘Grou’” walking route, on the other hand, focuses on the Rijksmonumenten along the way. These offer different ways to choose between the routes: for the cycling route, length and shape are the key considerations; for the walking route, it is the historic sights along the way.

At the TIP in Grou, visitors can get personal information from a local. This complements the practical information about nature, water, routes and local history when planning your time in Grou.

Discover more destinations: Raerd, Terherne, Jirnsum, Akkrum, Warten, Aldeboarn.

Return to the main travel overview: Boarnsterhim.