Discover De Wilp

De Wilp appeals to travelers who want to learn about a place's history and cultural landmarks as well as find accommodation. Churches, a Wulp figure and a bell frame stand alongside a settlement history shaped by canals and labor. This offers several concrete ways to explore the area: through architectural history, the historic landscape and the language used in everyday life today. If you're looking for a hotel for a stay in De Wilp, this focus provides clear guidance on the cultural side of your trip.

Churches and Local History

The Plantsoenkerk in De Wilp has been recognized as a national heritage site (Rijksmonument) since August 11, 1993. The Oosterkerk has different historical milestones: it was built in 1919 and extensively renovated in the 1990s. The two churches thus represent different questions in architectural history: for the Plantsoenkerk, the focus is on its dated heritage status; for the Oosterkerk, it is on its year of construction and subsequent renovation. The comparison is also clear in terms of timing: the Plantsoenkerk's heritage status has a precise date, while the Oosterkerk's construction and renovation are identified as taking place in separate periods. Another piece of local church history concerns an organ. In 1871, the Doopsgezinde Gemeente (Mennonite congregation) sold the organ to the Hervormde kerk (Dutch Reformed Church) in De Wilp. The area's cultural history thus includes not only buildings, but also the story of an instrument.

From Land Reclamation to Waterways

De Wilp's early development took place in several phases. Frisian workers reclaimed the surrounding land, giving rise to the village. Later, peat workers settled on the reclaimed land as smallholders. At the end of the 18th century, the Wilpsterhoofdvaart canal was dug; gradually, a settlement emerged that was named after the inn of the time, “de Wulp.” The early routes add another aspect to this settlement history: initially, there were no roads, only canals and muddy paths along the banks. The reclamation work and subsequent settlement tell the story of colonization; canal construction and the gradual emergence of a settlement offer another way to explore local history.

Art, Architecture and Language

At the heart of De Wilp stands a Wulp figure created by Klaas Duursma. A seated praam boat was also placed in the center as part of the “De Wulp” project, which began in 2016. The art figure and the seating area are two distinct local landmarks. There is also a bell frame in the cemetery, a wooden structure with a suspended bell. Frisian is used as a spoken language in De Wilp today, mainly as a result of migration. The area's cultural story thus ranges from art and church architecture to present-day language use.

Leisure and Landscape

The De Wilp Corn Maze offers a new adventure every year, with puzzles, craft activities and a treasure hunt at the end. Unlike the churches and historical landmarks, it centers on a new leisure activity each year. One announced walk went past the sports fields and through the village forest. The activities are clearly distinct: the corn maze includes puzzles, crafts and a treasure hunt, while the walk is defined by its route past the sports fields and through the village forest.

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