Suitable for beginners. Motor yachts with a clearance height of up to 2.50 m.
Terherne, Sneek, Boazum, Easterlittens, Winsum, Wjelsryp, Franeker, Ried, Berlikum, Menaldum, Leeuwarden, Wommels, Bolsward, IJlst, Sneek, Terherne.
| Van | Naar | Afstand | Tijd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terherne | Sneek | 9 km | 60 min |
| Sneek | Boazum | 8.4 km | 60 min |
| Boazum | Easterlittens | 10.7 km | 75 min |
| Easterlittens | Winsum | 2.7 km | 20 min |
| Winsum | Welsrijp | 3.9 km | 30 min |
| Welsrijp | Franeker | 4.8 km | 35 min |
| Franeker | Ried | 6.7 km | 45 min |
| Ried | Berlikum | 4.6 km | 30 min |
| Berlikum | Menaldum | 4.3 km | 30 min |
| Menaldum | Leeuwarden | 11.4 km | 80 min |
| Leeuwarden | Wommels | 22.5 km | 150 min |
| Wommels | Bolsward | 7 km | 50 min |
| Bolsward | IJlst | 11.2 km | 75 min |
| IJlst | Sneek | 4.6 km | 30 min |
| Sneek | Terherne | 9 km | 60 min |
The historic Middelseeroute, part of the Elfstedentocht, was an important waterway connecting Leeuwarden and Sneek long ago. Today, it offers a good alternative to the busy Prinses Margriet Canal for motorboats and sailboats with a mast that can be lowered.
From Leeuwarden, Franeker, or Bolsward, you can cruise directly to the Sneek Water Sports Center. The route is accessible to boats with a maximum draft of 2.46 meters. Through the Dompschutsluis lock, you’ll cruise right into the charming town of Sneek. The many mooring facilities and beautiful quays make it easy to stroll into town to explore the cute shops and cozy outdoor cafes!
The Middelseeroute owes its name to its location in the area of the former “Middelzee”. Characteristic of the region are the mounds, which helped residents “keep their heads above water” thousands of years ago. Mound villages such as Boazum, Easterwierrum, Iens, and Raerd serve as reminders of that era. The villages along the Middelseerûte are easily accessible thanks to the many mooring facilities, including those along De Swette, Boazumer Feart, and Frjentsjerter Feart.
In the Middelseeroute region, with its stunning views, you can plan your own cycling route using the network of bike paths. Ride along the winding Slachtedijk, or past historic manors and stinsen. Poetry lovers will be in their element cycling along the Fryske Ferse Paad and soaking up the atmosphere in charming villages like Mantgum, Wommels, and Jorwert. Historical city walks bring the history of Leeuwarden and Sneek to life. Hiking in nature is an experience along the Slachtedijk or the old towpaths and hauling trails along De Swette.
The expansive landscape, dotted with countless mounds, is interspersed here and there with winding dikes. Stately, imposing farmhouses seem to keep an eye on the passing boats. Picturesque villages and historic towns beckon to the boaters. The Middelseeroute takes you through a unique area.
The Middelseeroute area is expansive and rich in waterways. The banks are often lined with rustling reeds, and the scenery is ever-changing. And if the weather isn’t so great one day? The Frisian Maritime Museum in Sneek, the De Striid Tsjin It Wetter museum in Wommels, and the Frisian Museum in Leeuwarden are all highly recommended. This historic region is also rich in monuments. Those who aren’t afraid of a little mysticism should check out the famous mummies of Wiuwert, the mirage at the Unia State, or the fresco of the beardless Christ in the church of Boazum.
From Sneek, with its characteristic water gate, the route leads north, past Scharnegoutum. The church, built on a mound, towers above everything. Further along, a branch of the Swette leads to Boazum, one of the oldest villages in Friesland. Those who follow the branch cruise towards Easterlittens, a ‘village of tradition’. On the village square stands ‘It Pealtsje fan Easterlittens’, which commemorates a fairy tale about a fortunate shoemaker.
As you continue boating along De Swette, even more centuries-old villages come into view: Dearsum, with its inn, the “Dearsumer Húske,” dating from 1787, and Easterwierrum. The tower on a mound, just outside the village, is a remnant of the demolished church. Easterwierrum is known for the annual Berne-Iepenloftspul, during which schoolchildren perform a musical or play outdoors. A little further from the water lie Jorwert, where Geert Mak wrote his book *How God Disappeared from Jorwert*, and Mantgum, where neoclassical villas with their beautiful gardens betray a prosperous past. Near Mantgum lies the hamlet of Skillaerd, where the church tower is one of the oldest surviving Renaissance structures in Fryslân. Past the two windmills with spindle-shaped tops, the route ends where the Swette flows into the Van Harinxma Canal near Leeuwarden.
Downloads: Map of the Middelseeroute
View: Map of the Middelseeroute in Google Maps
