Hogeland

Hogeland or Hoogeland is a region in the north of the province of Groningen in the Netherlands. The borders of the historical Hogeland region are not well-defined, but generally it refers to the parts of the province north of the Reitdiep river and Damsterdiep canal, or simply north of Groningen city. In 2019, a new municipality named Het Hogeland was formed in this region, based on a merger of the old municipalities of De Marne, Winsum, Eemsmond and Bedum. This travel guide also includes the municipality of Loppersum.

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.

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

• VVV Warffum, Schoolstraat 4, Warffum (in Openluchtmuseum Het Hoogeland, +31 595 422 233. Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 13:00-17:00.
• VVV Bedum, Kapelstraat 3, Bedum, +31 50 301 5111. M-F 14:00-16:30, Tu W F 09:30-12:00.
• VVV Infopunt Uithuizen, Blink 9, Uithuizen (in Venema Bookstore, +31 595 434 051. M 13:00-17:30, Tu-Th 09:00-17:30, F 09:00-20:00, Sa 09:00-17:00.

VVV Warffum, Schoolstraat 4, Warffum (in Openluchtmuseum Het Hoogeland, +31 595 422 233. Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 13:00-17:00.

VVV Bedum, Kapelstraat 3, Bedum, +31 50 301 5111. M-F 14:00-16:30, Tu W F 09:30-12:00.

VVV Infopunt Uithuizen, Blink 9, Uithuizen (in Venema Bookstore, +31 595 434 051. M 13:00-17:30, Tu-Th 09:00-17:30, F 09:00-20:00, Sa 09:00-17:00.

• Menkemaborg, Menkemaweg 2, Uithuizen. Mar–Sep: Tu-Su 10:00-17:00, Oct-Dec: Tu-Su 10:00-16:00. 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. Adults €6.
• Verhildersum, Wierde 40, Leens, +31 595 571 430. Apr-Oct: Tu-Su 10:30-17:00. 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. Adults €6.
• Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen, Hoofdstraat 94a, Pieterburen, +31 595 526 526. Daily 10:00-17:00. 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. Adults €7.50, children €5.
• Jacobus de Meerderekerk, Hoofdstraat Oost 2, Uithuizen. The oldest neo-Gothic church of Groningen (1860).
• Walfriduskerk, 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', Hoofdstraat 150, Pieterburen. Open for the public every Sunday in uneven weeks 10:00-16:00 (until 17:00 in Summer). Windmill 'De Vier Winden' (The Four Winds) is an old windmill that can still be used, built in 1864.
• Windmill 'De Goliath', Goliath’s pad 1-3, Eemshaven. Sat/Sun 13:30-17:00. Relatively large polder windmill, used for drainage of reclaimed land. The traditional windmill is surrounded by a large number of huge modern wind turbines.

Menkemaborg, Menkemaweg 2, Uithuizen. Mar–Sep: Tu-Su 10:00-17:00, Oct-Dec: Tu-Su 10:00-16:00. 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. Adults €6.

Verhildersum, Wierde 40, Leens, +31 595 571 430. Apr-Oct: Tu-Su 10:30-17:00. 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. Adults €6.

Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen, Hoofdstraat 94a, Pieterburen, +31 595 526 526. Daily 10:00-17:00. 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. Adults €7.50, children €5.

Jacobus de Meerderekerk, Hoofdstraat Oost 2, Uithuizen. The oldest neo-Gothic church of Groningen (1860).

Walfriduskerk, 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', Hoofdstraat 150, Pieterburen. Open for the public every Sunday in uneven weeks 10:00-16:00 (until 17:00 in Summer). Windmill 'De Vier Winden' (The Four Winds) is an old windmill that can still be used, built in 1864.

Windmill 'De Goliath', Goliath’s pad 1-3, Eemshaven. Sat/Sun 13:30-17:00. 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.

Go mudflat hiking. Pieterburen is a starting place for guided mud walks on the bottom of the [[Wadden Sea]], at low tide.

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 (city)|Groningen]], [[Deventer]], [[Nijmegen]] and [[Maastricht]].

• 't Schathoes. Good quality restaurant located in the Menkemaborg. It also offers arrangements for lunch or diner including a visit to the borg and its gardens.
• Azzurra, Hoofdstraat West 2, Uithuizen. The town's Italian restaurant gets rather good reviews, especially for its pizzas.
• Rose Garden, Schoolstraat 1, Uithuizen. Chinese restaurant.
• Bij de Buren van Pieter, Hoofdstraat 82, Pieterburen, +31 595 528558. Pizzeria and mixed grill. Nice terrace. Pizza €6.50-15.50.
• Waddengenot, Hoofdstraat 93, Pieterburen, +31 595 528558. Excellent fish menu. Same owner as the pizzeria.

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

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

Rose Garden, Schoolstraat 1, Uithuizen. Chinese restaurant.

Bij de Buren van Pieter, Hoofdstraat 82, Pieterburen, +31 595 528558. Pizzeria and mixed grill. Nice terrace. Pizza €6.50-15.50.

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

• 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.

Frisian Islands — Hop on a ferry to one of the Frisian Islands. You can go to the East Frisian (German) island of [[East Frisian Islands|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.