Discover Winsum

Two themes take centre stage on a trip to Winsum: the history of its mills and churches, and routes for walking and cycling. Buildings offer different historical reference points, while routes can be compared by distance and starting or finishing point. If you’re looking for a hotel in Winsum, you can first decide whether local history, a cycling route or a walk should be the main focus of your stay.

Mills and Monastery History

Molen De Vriendschap was moved from Mensingeweer to Winsum in 1801. Molen De Ster stands on the site of the former church of the Dominican monastery and is a grain and pearl barley mill on Molenstraat, on the Molenberg. Dominican monks founded a monastery on Winsum’s terp in 1276. The two mills therefore point to different historical reference points: De Vriendschap represents a move between locations, while De Ster has a site associated with monastic history and is a distinctive type of mill.

Churches and Buildings

Kerk Obergum was built in the first half of the 13th century on the highest part of a terp. Its saddleback-roofed tower was added later, in the 14th century. This makes it possible to distinguish chronologically between the original church building and a later addition. At Torenkerk, by contrast, the focus is on the reconstruction of one of its features: its wooden exterior staircase was reconstructed in 1975–1976 based on surviving remains of the original staircase.

De Boog adds another perspective with a distinctive stone arch bridge connecting Winsum and Obergum. The buildings offer different points of interest: medieval construction phases at Kerk Obergum, a reconstruction at Torenkerk, and the connection between the two places provided by De Boog.

Cycling and Walking Routes

The cycling routes can be compared directly by distance. Kust 2 is 49 kilometres long and starts and finishes at Ubbo J. Mansholtplein in Winsum, where the NS railway station and bus station are located. The Taalroute is 21 kilometres long and also starts and finishes in Winsum. Kust 2 is therefore the longer of the two routes. The Doorfietsroute between Winsum and Groningen is about 13 kilometres long and has been fully open to cyclists since April 2025. As infrastructure details can change, check the latest route information before setting off.

For walking routes, the starting point is a practical way to tell them apart. The historic Podwalk starts and finishes at Winsum railway station. The route “Wandelen door Winsum” starts at Marenland Recreatie, Winsumerdiep 6. The Jaagpad along the Winsumerdiep runs between De Boog and Marenland campsite. This lets you distinguish between a route starting at the station, one starting at a named address, and the section of the Jaagpad along the Winsumerdiep.

At the TIP Winsum Tourist Information Point, visitors can get cycling, walking and canoeing routes. The offerings therefore cover different ways of getting around. If you’re planning your trip around a specific route, the information point is another place to get your bearings.

Discover more destinations: Saaxumhuizen, Tinallinge, Rasquert, Adorp, Garnwerd, Baflo

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