Westerkwartier

The Westerkwartier, Dutch for Western Quarter (of Groningen province), is a historical region bordering the provinces of Friesland to the west and Drenthe to the south. The region is organised as a single municipality since 2019. Until 2018, the region consisted of four municipalities: Leek, Zuidhorn, Grootegast, and Marum.
The Westerkwartier region is a rural area with dozens of larger and smaller towns, villages and hamlets. The larger towns function as commuter towns for Groningen city. These largest towns are Leek, Zuidhorn, Marum, and Tolbert. Other main villages include Grootegast, Grijpskerk, Aduard, and Zevenhuizen.

Middag-Humsterland

Middag-Humsterland is in the north of the Westerkwartier region, as well as partly in the Hogeland region. The region is one of the oldest cultural landscapes of Western Europe. Around 800 AD, Middag-Humsterland was one of the most densely populated areas of the Netherlands. Nowadays it is known as a quiet and historic region. Before dikes were built, starting around the beginning of the second millennium, people in this region built artificial hills (called wierde) to shelter themselves and their stock from the high tide. In 1995, this collection of 'wierden ' was added to UNESCO's tentative list of World Heritage Sites.

Tourist information

There are two tourist information centres in the Westerkwartier region. In addition, a lot of touristic information on Groningen province, including the Westerkwartier region, can be obtained from the central Tourist Information Office in the city centre of Groningen city.

• Infocentrum Landgoed Nienoord

  phone: +31 594 512 230
  address: Nienoord 20, Leek
  Information centre of the Nienoord estate, functioning also as tourist information for Leek and the Westerkwartier region.

• Tourist Information Marum

  phone: +31 594 641 202
  address: Kruisweg 1, Marum
  Tourist information on Marum and the Westerkwartier region is available at Restaurant De Kruisweg, centrally located in Marum.

By car

The Westerkwartier region is traversed by the A7 motorway, just 10 minutes west of Groningen city. The Westerkwartier is about 1.5 hours by car from Amsterdam, and 40 minutes from the German border (Emsland). From Groningen city, the key direct highway to the north of the Westerkwartier region (Zuidhorn and surroundings) is the N355.

By train

Only the northern part of the Westerkwartier region can be accessed by train. A direct train service connects the stations of Zuidhorn and Grijpskerk twice per hour with Groningen (to Zuidhorn 12 minutes, €3; to Grijpskerk 17 minutes, €4.20) and Leeuwarden (to Zuidhorn 38 minutes, €8.10; to Grijpskerk 32 minutes, €6.80). The trains are operated by Arriva. From other parts of the Netherlands, transfer at Groningen station.

By bus

Local bus operator Qbuzz operates bus routes from the city of Groningen to virtually every village in the Westerkwartier region.

• Bus line 3 (Groningen-Leek-Tolbert): frequent and fast bus line (2-6 times/hour; 20 minutes; €5). There are several bus stops in Leek, with bus stop Centrum serving the town centre and southern side of the Nienoord estate; and bus stop Westerheerdtlaan serving the western side of the Nienoord estate.
• Bus line 39 (Groningen-Zuidhorn-Grootegast): local bus route serving many villages in the northern Westerkwartier, including Aduard, Niekerk, Oldekerk, Sebaldeburen, Doezum, Kornhorn and Opende, and continuing to Surhuisterveen in Friesland.
• Bus line 85 (Groningen-Leek-Zevenhuizen-Oosterwolde): local bus route serving the village of Zevenhuizen, and continuing to Oosterwolde in Friesland.
• Bus line 88 (Groningen-Oostwold-Leek): local bus route serving the villages of Oostwold, Lettelbert, and Midwolde, and the northern side of the Nienoord estate.
• Bus line 89 (Groningen-Leek-Tolbert-Marum-De Wilp-Drachten): local bus route serving several villages around Marum, and continuing to Drachten in Friesland.

In addition, Leek is served by bus line 83 from Assen via Roden to Leek.

By bicycle

There are many bicycle routes leading into the Westerkwartier region. From the central square in Groningen city, the Grote Markt, Leek (18 km) and Zuidhorn (13 km) are clearly signposted the entire way for cyclists.

The fastest way to get around in the Westerkwartier region is by car. But bicycling is easy as the main towns and villages are clearly signposted with dedicated signposts for cyclists, and in most cases separate cycle paths are available.
The bus routes as mentioned above may be used to get around within the region. However, these mostly offer east-west connections, and north-south connections are scarce. For example, to get from Zuidhorn to Leek by public transport, the fastest way is via Groningen (using the train and bus line 3).

Museums

• Borg Nienoord

  address: Nienoord 1, Leek
  Historic manor house with beautiful gardens and the Dutch national carriage museum with a wide range of carriages and sleighs.

• Kloostermuseum Aduard

  phone: +31 50 403 2109
  address: Hofstraat 45, Aduard
  Museum on the monastery of the Cistercian Order that was here in Aduard. The museum is in a 16th-century house and the 13th-century infirmary of the monastery.

• Abel Tasman Museum

  phone: +31 6 5380 4741
  address: Kompasstraat 1a, Lutjegast
  Museum on the famous Dutch 17th-century seafarer, explorer, and merchant that was born here. Abel Tasman was the first European to reach Tasmania, New Zealand, and Fiji. The collection includes old nautical charts, books, and art from the islands that Abel Tasman visited.

• Museum 't Steenhuus

  phone: +31 594 549 657
  address: ‘t Pad 15A, Niebert
  In a fortified villa building from around 1400 AD, with a small museum on old crafts including the baking craft.

• Museum het Joodse Schooltje

  address: Samuel Leviestraat 10, Leek
  Monument and museum on the Jewish history of Leek, in a very small old school building.

• LEGiO-museum

  address: Legolaan 1c, Grootegast
  In the former headquarters building of LEGO Netherlands, a museum on the Danish plastic brick toy. To see and to play.

Churches

• Church of Midwolde

  address: Hoofdstraat 134, Midwolde
  12th century church with a mausoleum

Attractions

• Familiepark Nienoord

  address: Nienoord 20, Leek
  Family theme park with large playground, petting zoo, and large model train park.

Hiking

• On the website Westerkwartierpluspad a walking route of 165 km across the entire Westerkwartier region (and the border region in Friesland province) has been outlined. The route consists of nine day hikes of about 20 km each. Even though the website is in Dutch, the maps are self-explanatory.

• 't Blôde Fuottenpaad

  address: Opende
  A short walking trail of about 3 km designed to walk barefeet. While underway you will have to climb, hang and especially walk over paths, bridges and obstacles.

Water sports

• Watersportcentrum Westerkwartier

  phone: +31 594 517 539
  address: Hoofdstraat 190, Lettelbert
  Canoe and kayak rental for paddling around the Westerkwartier canals and the Leekstermeer lake.

• Cnossen Leekstermeer

  phone: +31 594 512 073
  address: Meerweg 13, Nietap
  Sailing boat, canoe, kayak, and surfboard rental, and sailing courses, at the Leekstermeer lake.

Opening hours

The town centres of Leek, Zuidhorn, Grootegast, and Marum have a variety of shops. In many of the other villages there are a few shops such as supermarkets and bakeries. In general, shops are opened M-F from 09:00 to 18:00 and on Saturdays from 09:00 to 17:00. In Leek, Zuidhorn and Grootegast, shops are open until 21:00 on Friday nights, and in Marum on Thursday nights. Supermarkets are open 08:00 to 21:00 or 22:00 daily, except for Sundays. Most shops are closed on Sundays, but some supermarkets in Leek and Tolbert open in the afternoon 13:00-18:00.

Regional products

• 't Kappertje Delicatessen

  address: Hoofdstraat 29B, Zuidhorn

• Het Lekkere Winkeltje

  address: Samuel Leviestraat 1, Leek

• La Pasión Delicatessen

  address: Samuel Leviestraat 51c, Leek

• Restaurant Breed

  phone: +31 594 696 128
  address: Nieuwe Streek 35
  'World restaurant' with all-you-can-eat concept.

• Samiramis

  phone: +31 594 612 222
  address: Hoofdstraat 109, Grootegast
  Mediterranean restaurant in Grootegast's town centre, operated by an Egyptian owner.

• Pannenkoekenburcht Nienoord

  address: Midwolderweg 19, Leek
  Traditional Dutch pancakes

• Eetcafé De Buren

  address: Tolberterstraat 13, Leek

• Borg Piloersema

  phone: +31 50 403 1362
  address: Sietse Veldstraweg 25, Den Ham GN
  A borg (manor house) that is now in use as a restaurant. There are also appartments and rooms to stay overnight.

Cafés and coffee houses

• Koffie- en Theehuis Tante Til

  phone: +31 594 504 384
  address: Dorpsstraat 5, Enumatil
  Coffee, tea, cake, and homemade local pastries. Terrace with windmill view.

• Blotevoetenhof

  phone: +31 594 657 080
  address: Peebos 1a, Opende
  Coffee and tea garden near the 'barefeet path' (see Hiking above).

Nightlife

Nightlife is rather limited, as the Westerkwartier is a rural area with small towns and villages. In each of the larger towns there are some bars and pubs that open until late on weekends. For more serious nightlife you will have to go to the city of Groningen. On Saturdays, there is a night bus route (line 417) connecting Leek to Groningen.

• Café De Oude Bank

  address: Tolberterstraat 4, Leek
  Traditional Dutch pub ('brown café') in Leek's town centre.

• De Kruisweg

  phone: +31 594 641 202
  address: Kruisweg 1, Marum
  Bar and restaurant, with regular events (theme parties).

Hotels

There are only a few hotels in the Westerkwartier region. Additional hotels are available in Roden (5 km from Leek) and Groningen city.

• Best Western Hotel Aduard

  phone: +31 50 403 1400
  address: Friesestraatweg 13, Aduard

• Hotel In 't Holt

  phone: +31 594 505 353
  address: Hoofdstraat 2, Zuidhorn

Campsites

• Landgoedcamping Nienoord

  phone: +31 594 580 898
  address: Midwolderweg 19, Leek
  Campsite within the Nienoord estate

• Camping 't Strandheem

  phone: +31 594 659 555
  address: Parkweg 2, Opende
  Campsite with indoor swimming pool, recommended for families with teenagers

• Camping de Watermolen

  phone: +31 594 659 144
  address: Openderweg 26, Opende
  Campsite and rental cottages

• Natuurkampeerterrein Lettelbert

  phone: +31 88 099 0985
  address: Hoofdstraat 190, Lettelbert
  Campsite at the Lettelberterdiep canal, near the Leekstermeer lake

• Camping Cnossen Leekstermeer

  phone: +31 594 512 073
  address: Meerweg 13, Nietap
  Campsite along the shores of the Leekstermeer lake

The larger towns have postal service points, typically located inside supermarkets and bookstores. Besides mail and package services, they also sell the OV-chipkaart for public transport. Convenient ones include:

• Postal service point Zuidhorn

  address: De Dorpsvenne 1D

• Postal service point Leek

  address: De Schans 4

• Groningen — economic and cultural centre of the Northern Netherlands
• Roden — forested area just across the border in Drenthe province
• Schiermonnikoog — quiet West Frisian island just north of the Westerkwartier