Hogeland

The name Hogeland literally means 'High Land'. This refers to the relatively high elevation of the region, as a result of the alluvial deposits of clay from the Wadden Sea. 'High elevation' is very relative in this case, and must be considered in the context of the Netherlands, as the average elevation is only about 1 to 2 metres above sea level.

Tourist information

There are 11 tourist information offices and agencies in the Hogeland region. Some of them are listed below.

• VVV Warffum

  phone: +31 595 422 233
  address: Schoolstraat 4, Warffum

• VVV Bedum

  phone: +31 50 301 5111
  address: Kapelstraat 3, Bedum

• VVV Infopunt Uithuizen

  phone: +31 595 434 051
  address: Blink 9, Uithuizen

By car

There are several expressways and key trunk roads leading into the Hogeland region. From Groningen city, there are the N46 expressway to the Eemshaven port in the northeast (via among others Bedum, Middelstum and Roodeschool) and the N361 trunk road to the port of Lauwersoog in the northwest (via Winsum). An alternative way in to the eastern side of the Hogeland is the N33 expressway from Veendam via Appingedam/Delfzijl. To the western side of the Hogeland, there is the N388 trunk road providing a connection with the Westerkwartier region and Friesland province.

By train

There are 11 railway stations in the Hogeland region, and all larger villages are connected to the railway network via two different railway lines that go north from Groningen city (one to Roodeschool in the Hogeland region, and one to Delfzijl). Both train services are operated by Arriva, and run twice per hour per direction.

• Groningen - Roodeschool via Sauwerd, Winsum, Baflo, Warffum, Usquert, Uithuizen, and Uithuizermeeden.
• Groningen - Delfzijl via Sauwerd, Bedum, Stedum, Loppersum, and Appingedam.

By bus

With a relatively dense railway network, to most larger villages in the Hogeland region, the train is a better option than taking a bus. However, to get to the smaller villages, or the outskirts of some of the villages, some bus routes may be useful. Bus route 50 is operated by Arriva, all other routes by Qbuzz.

• Bus route 50 (1x/hour): from Leeuwarden via Dokkum to Hogeland (Lauwersoog).
• Bus route 61 (1-2x/hour): from Groningen via Hogeland (Zuidwolde, Bedum, Middelstum, Usquert, Uithuizen, Uithuizermeeden, Roodeschool) to Delfzijl.
• Bus route 65 (1-2x/hour): from Groningen to Hogeland (Adorp, Wetsinge, Winsum, Mensingeweer, Eenrum, Wehe den Hoorn, Leens, Ulrum, Zoutkamp).
• Bus route 163 (only to connect to the ferry to Schiermonnikoog at Lauwersoog): from Groningen to Hogeland (Adorp, Wetsinge, Winsum, Ulrum, Lauwersoog).

Apart from bus route 50 providing a connection from Leeuwarden to Lauwersoog, from all other destinations in the Netherlands the easiest way to get to the Hogeland by public transport is to take a train to Groningen city, and connect there to the train or bus to the Hogeland.

By ferry

There are ferry connections to and from the Hogeland with two of the Frisian Islands. There are usually 4 or 5 daily crossings between the and the West Frisian Island of Schiermonnikoog. In addition, there are 2 or 3 daily crossings from the to the East Frisian Island of Borkum (Germany). Eemshaven got railway service in March 2018 making it convenient to reach both via Borkum and from the Netherlands.

Within the villages and for short distances using a bicycle is recommended. In many cases separate cycle paths are available, and all villages are clearly signposted with dedicated signposts for cyclists. The fastest way to travel between villages and towns that are farther apart, however, is by car.
To get around in the Hogeland region by public transport, the two railway lines as mentioned above can be used to travel between the towns and larger villages (to transfer from the one railway to the other, you will need to change at Sauwerd railway station). Also bus routes 61 and 65 (see above), and bus route 68 (Winsum-Baflo-Pieterburen-Kloosterburen-Leens) can be used for travelling within the region.

• Menkemaborg

  address: Menkemaweg 2, Uithuizen
  This historic, brick mansion still boasts lovely gardens, moats and promenades. It's one of the best examples of its kind in the country and gives a great insight in the life of the inhabitants of a Groningen 'borg' in the 18th century.

• Verhildersum

  phone: +31 595 571 430
  address: Wierde 40, Leens
  14th-century 'borg' (manor house) with large gardens with a carriage house, a farmhouse, and a garden shed. The borg houses a museum decorated in 19th-century style, and various expositions and events are organised throughout the year.

• Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen

  phone: +31 595 526 526
  address: Hoofdstraat 94a, Pieterburen
  The Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre is the main attraction in Pieterburen. It has a small visitors centre and of course you can watch the seals that reside there. This is a rescue centre, not a zoo, so the number of seals varies.

• Jacobus de Meerderekerk

  address: Hoofdstraat Oost 2, Uithuizen
  The oldest neo-Gothic church of Groningen (1860).

• Walfriduskerk

  address: Plantsoen 2, Bedum
  11th-century church with a Romanesque style clock tower that is leaning more than the tower of Pisa.

• Windmill 'De Vier Winden'

  address: Hoofdstraat 150, Pieterburen
  Windmill 'De Vier Winden' (The Four Winds) is an old windmill that can still be used, built in 1864.

• Windmill 'De Goliath'

  address: Goliath’s pad 1-3, Eemshaven
  Relatively large polder windmill, used for drainage of reclaimed land. The traditional windmill is surrounded by a large number of huge modern wind turbines.

• Go mudflat hiking. Pieterburen is a starting place for guided mud walks on the bottom of the Wadden Sea, at low tide.
• If you enjoy hiking, set out on the most popular Dutch long distance walking route, the Pieterpad. It starts right here at Hotel Waddenweelde in Pieterburen and runs all the way south to the Sint-Pietersberg in Maastricht. The first stage runs from Pieterburen to Winsum.
• The walking and cycling trail, Jacobspad, starts right here in Uithuizen. This route runs from church to church, all the way to Santiago de Compostella in Spain. Dutch cities on the route are Groningen, Deventer, Nijmegen and Maastricht.

• 't SchathoesGood quality restaurant located in the Menkemaborg. It also offers arrangements for lunch or diner including a visit to the borg and its gardens.

• Azzurra

  address: Hoofdstraat West 2, Uithuizen
  The town's Italian restaurant gets rather good reviews, especially for its pizzas.

• Rose Garden

  address: Schoolstraat 1, Uithuizen
  Chinese restaurant.

• Bij de Buren van Pieter

  phone: +31 595 528558
  address: Hoofdstraat 82, Pieterburen
  Pizzeria and mixed grill. Nice terrace.

• Waddengenot

  phone: +31 595 528558
  address: Hoofdstraat 93, Pieterburen
  Excellent fish menu. Same owner as the pizzeria.

While accommodations in Appingedam, Delfzijl, or Groningen city are good bases for day trips in the Hogeland region, there are also various hotels and other accommodations in the Hogeland region itself.

• Hotel Het Gemeentehuis

  phone: +31 595 850 119
  address: Hoofdstraat Oost 16, Uithuizen
  Fully renovated after a fire in 1996, this historic building is now a comfortable hotel and restaurant.

• Hotel 't Gemeentehuis

  phone: +31 50 301 2213
  address: Grotestraat 2, Bedum
  Former town hall of Bedum, right in the town centre.

• Hotel Waddenweelde

  phone: +31 595 528 558
  address: Hoofdstraat 84, Pieterburen
  In hotel Waddenweelde you will spend the night in a historical building in the centre of the village.

• Hotel Ekamper

  phone: +31 596 516 355
  address: Radsweg 12, Oosteinde (Roodeschool)
  The northernmost hotel of mainland Netherlands. Near the Eemshaven port.

• Hotel Spoorzicht

  phone: +31 596 571 592
  address: Molenweg 11, Loppersum
  Hotel with restaurant and spa facilities

• Frisian Islands — Hop on a ferry to one of the Frisian Islands. You can go to the East Frisian (German) island of Borkum from the port of Eemshaven, or the West Frisian (Dutch) island of Schiermonnikoog from the port of Lauwersoog.
• Appingedam — Charming town with many medieval buildings in the centre.