Discover Holwerd: salt marshes, churches and a windmill

Holwerd brings together the Wadden landscape, historic buildings and various ways to explore the village on foot. When looking for a hotel in Holwerd, you can consider whether salt marshes and walks, the village’s history or the connection to Ameland should be the focus of your trip.

Salt marshes and paths along the Wadden Sea

At the ferry terminal to Ameland near Holwerd, Staatsbosbeheer manages an extensive salt marsh area. The “Wandeling Holwerd aan Zee” excursion leads through the historic centre, over the dike and through the salt marshes to the Kees Weverswadpost birdwatching hut. If you plan to take this excursion, check its current availability beforehand. The Kees Weverswadpost can be reached via the old summer dike and also via the dike north of Holwerd.

For a walk with a specified distance, the “Holwert” circular route is a useful option: it is 12.1 kilometres long and connects the village with the sea again. The “Waddentour” walking route is marked with Waddentour signs. During the breeding season, from 15 March to 15 July, use the alternative “Rondwandeling Holwerd” route. This information helps distinguish the different route options: a distance is specified for the “Holwert” circular route, while the breeding season determines when to use the alternative route.

The “Wadlopen naar Ameland” mudflat hike first crosses a challenging mudflat and then mostly follows firm sandbanks and passes through several channels. Conditions on the mudflats depend on the tide and weather. Registration for this activity takes place at the steps of the Land- en Zeezicht restaurant on the pier in Holwerd. If a particular activity or tour is to be the main focus of your trip, take the relevant information into account before planning.

Village history and distinctive buildings

Holwerd is one of the villages in the municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân whose protected village views have been designated by the Dutch state. A distinctive feature of the village is the Sint-Willibrorduskerk. Construction of the present church began in 1776; its unusual layout is L-shaped. The 52-metre-high tower served for a long time as a navigation marker on the Wadden Sea. The organ also has its own history: J.C. Scheuer built it in 1852, and Bakker & Timmenga altered it in 1907. Most of the church’s furnishings date from the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Doopsgezinde Kerk tells a different story of construction. Built in 1850, this hall church has a tall porch beneath a transverse roof. It replaced a nearby Mennonite meeting house dating from 1692. The church also has a one-manual organ by Bakker and Timmenga, dating from 1905. The building’s design, its predecessor and the organ each point to a different period: the meeting house dates from the 17th century, while the church dates from the 19th century.

The De Hoop windmill also brings together an engineering design and a history of use. This octagonal gallery smock mill dates from at least around 1743; its sails have a span of 23.65 metres. Volunteers operate the mill regularly, and it is also used as a teaching mill.

Art along the way and the connection to Ameland

On the “Wandeling Holwerd aan Zee” route, you pass the Sense of Place artwork “De mannen van Holwerd”, an installation by Linette van Raven. Another work is “Wachten op hoog water”: two five-metre-high female figures welded from metal look out to sea. The installation explores the search for balance and exchange. The two artworks offer different ways to experience Holwerd through contemporary art as well as its architecture.

Wagenborg Passagiersdiensten operates the ferry connection to Ameland. It runs from Holwerd to Ameland, and the crossing takes about 50 minutes. As timetable details may change, check departure times before your trip. This lets you consider walks, local history and the ferry connection as separate parts of your plans without treating the respective routes or services as interchangeable.

Discover more destinations: Hantum, Paesens, Waaxens Gem Dongeradeel, Dokkum, Niawier, Anjum, Ee, Metslawier

For the broader travel overview: Dongeradeel.