Raerd: Park History, Church and Trails

Raerd brings together historic buildings, a park with mature trees and stinzen plants, and routes for walking, cycling and boating. These features are not all part of the same route: the Slachtedyk runs as a walking and cycling route from Oosterbierum to Raerd, while the Moesel winds through Raerd and is accessible only by canoe. There is also the Laurentiuskerk, art in the village, and a walking route over nature trails around the village. Raerd thus reveals itself in different ways—from architectural history and parkland to activities on land and water.

Jongemastate Park: Gate and Landscape

In Jongemastate Park in Raerd, mature trees, distinctive stinzen plants and a medieval gateway shape the landscape. The surviving gate dates from 1603, giving the park a specific historical reference point. Stinzen plants are species associated with historic estates and parklands; here, this botanical feature sits alongside the mature trees. The park is open year-round. The Shell Path runs around the moat and is easy to navigate in a wheelchair. You can therefore take in both historic details and a clearly described route option in the park.

Laurentiuskerk and Other Historic Sites

The Laurentiuskerk stands high on a terp and dates from 1815. A terp is an artificially raised settlement site, so its elevated position is an integral part of the church’s description. Inside is a Rococo interior dating from around 1765. The two dates refer to different periods: the interior dates from before the church itself, which dates from 1815. Another tangible reminder is the war memorial at the entrance to the N.H. Church in Raerd.

Slachtedyk and Trails Around Raerd

The Slachtedyk is a cultural-historical landscape monument and also a walking and cycling route from Oosterbierum to Raerd. Almost the entire Slachtedyk is freely accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. Seasonal conditions may affect access, so take this into account when planning a specific visit. Alongside its cultural-historical significance, the Slachtedyk provides a habitat for numerous plants and insects, including rare plant species.

Another walking route circles Raerd via nature trails. The two routes differ: Oosterbierum and Raerd are named as the endpoints of the Slachtedyk, while the other route goes around Raerd. Raerd is also on the Jabiksroute. These routes can be viewed as distinct points of reference for walking or cycling, without treating their respective courses as the same.

Art in the Village and the Moesel

Raerd has a self-guided art walk featuring 14 large-scale reproductions of drawings by Taeke Stellingwerf. The reproductions are displayed at locations around the village. Their number and format give the walk a clearly defined focus: you can view the drawings at several places in the village and follow the art walk independently.

The Moesel offers another distinctive feature. It winds through Raerd and is accessible only by canoe. This sets it apart from the walking and cycling routes: access to the Moesel is explicitly limited to canoes. The park, historic buildings, nature trails, art and waterways offer different points of interest if you are considering Raerd as a destination for your stay.

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

Back to the main travel overview: Boarnsterhim.