Around Lauwersmeer - Groningen

This was, along with Schiermonnikoog, the most beautiful tour of our 2025 trip to Holland. After about 8 km, the signage for the junction system is incorrect. Point 9 may already have been corrected; our neighboring country is usually very good in this regard.

Lauwersmeer National Park Due to fears of flooding, the Lauwerszee was separated from the Wadden Sea in 1969. A beautiful natural area with many plants was created on the former seabed and animals feel at home. The lush nature invites you to explore for yourself and deserves to be treated with care. The Lauwersmeer remains a place where people and nature feel at home. Lauwersmeer bird paradise The area is best known for its incredible abundance of birds. There is one all year round Birds coming and going. More than a hundred species breed there and tens of thousands of geese, ducks and swans spend the winter here. The Lauwersmeer, together with the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site, lies at the junction of one of the most important bird migration routes in the world Earth. This route runs from the Arctic Circle to the coast of South Africa, in short, a paradise for birds and an ideal place to watch them. Dark Sky Park The Lauwersmeer National Park is one of the few areas in the Netherlands where it still gets really dark. Here you can see a clear starry sky and the Looking at the Milky Way. The area is not called for nothing Dark Sky Park designated.

An interesting round around the Lauwersmeer. There are many birds to see if you have an appropriate lens with you. There were a lot of birdwatchers on site, some of them drove up to the shore in their cars, but also on bikes or on foot with tripods and equipment. The tour is recommended for anyone traveling in the area. In addition to flora and fauna, there is also a lot of variety in the sections of the trail. Behind the barrage you can drive on the water side on the tarred foot of the dike with a view of Schiermonnikoog.

Unfortunately, the elevation profile does not reflect the challenge of the headwind mountains...

Today's tour had it all: sun 🌞, clouds ☁️, rain, and above all, wind. Wind in all forms, headwind, crosswind, and tailwind, of which the latter was the least. The rain and wind were, of course, the toughest challenges, but I mastered them all. It was, of course, a beautiful tour; we'll take the weather as it comes.

Beautiful cycling route around Lauwersmeer. Eating fish in the harbour of Lauwersoog.

The Lauwersmeer ( originally Lauwerszee ) is a former bay that was decided to be drained after the 1953 flood disaster. It was not until 1969 that the separation from the sea was complete. The dyke has been raised in recent years to meet future demands. The lock was apparently newly built and is not yet in operation (?). The second half of the tour (eastern side) wasn't that interesting, the bike paths were good, but the route wasn't very varied. In the end, some of it only ran alongside country roads. But bird lovers will certainly get their money's worth in the national park at the right time of day.

There's so much to discover in Lauwersmeer National Park, not to mention the excellent cycling paths. There are many ways to cycle around this sea, with plenty to see and all sorts of things to discover and experience. Definitely recommended 👍