Tripscompagnie: Canal History, Farms and Asparagus

Tripscompagnie is a canal village that emerged after 1648, following the construction of the Tripscompagniesterdiep. Its name goes back to Adriaen Trip: the colony was named after his private enterprise, Tripscompagnie. Canal construction and business history thus lie at the beginning of the village’s history.

Canal Village and Settlement

The Tripscompagniesterdiep was dug eastward from the south of Sappemeer, turned south after a kilometre and a half, and ended four kilometres later north of Veendam. Farms were built along both sides of the canal, especially on the eastern side. The canal’s course and the locations of the farms tell the story of the connection between water engineering and agricultural settlement.

Historic Traces in the Village

The l’Esperance potato starch factory operated in Tripscompagnie from 1898 to 1923. There was a primary school from 1863; after it closed in 1983, it was used as a village community centre. Het Torentje van Trips was once a polder mill called “De Vereeniging”.

At number 15, an Oldambtster farmhouse stands beside an iron pedestrian swing bridge. A listed pedestrian bridge is located at Tripscompagniesterweg 44. The municipal list relating to this designation dates from February 2024; if its current protected status matters to you, check it in advance.

Asparagus and Farm Shop

Grol Asperges grows its own asparagus and runs a farm shop in Tripscompagnie. During asparagus season, white asparagus is sold there in all varieties and sizes. Visitors can see how asparagus is sorted, peeled and packaged in the farm shop. The 2026 asparagus season has ended and the farm shop is closed. Grol Asperges hopes to welcome visitors back to Tripscompagnie in 2027; check whether the farm shop is open before visiting in 2027.

The business has a longer history: the first asparagus plants at Grol Asperges were planted in Tripscompagnie in 1992. The first asparagus was sold in the farm shop in 1995. Seasonal sales and the chance to see the processing are thus connected to different aspects of asparagus growing.

Cycling Route and Landscape

The 43.3-kilometre cycling route “Taste the White Gold” passes through Tripscompagnie, one of the authentic peat-colony villages along the route. The route offers a way to visit the village by bicycle; check the current route before setting out, as route details can change.

Het Torentje van Trips offers views over the green landscape at sunrise and sunset. A small lake with a beach is within walking distance. The views are therefore described for two different times of day, while the lake provides another specific landmark in the area.

A historic event series is also part of the village’s cultural history. A report dated 19 November 2015 records that Trips Rhythm brought blues artists and bands to the Dorpshuis Nooitgedacht in Tripscompagnie seven times a year between September and April. The series was founded after a jazz foundation that had previously been active at Nooitgedacht.

Discover more destinations: Noordbroek, Zuidbroek.

Back to the regional travel overview: Menterwolde.