Zoutkamp – Lauwersmeer National Park loop from Grijpskerk

Bike touring routes & trails

Netherlands

Groningen

Westerkwartier

Zoutkamp – Lauwersmeer National Park loop from Grijpskerk

Moderate

4.8

(32)

149

riders

Zoutkamp – Lauwersmeer National Park loop from Grijpskerk

03:49

66.5km

80m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 31, 2026

Tips

Includes movable bridges

Check opening times.

After 12.1 km for 42 m

After 26.7 km for 15 m

After 49.0 km for 11 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

12.3 km

Zoutkamp

Highlight • Settlement

Zoutkamp was an important fishing port until 1960, and was the transit route for ships to reach the city of Groningen. When the Lauwerszee was closed, the village lost this important position. Thanks to the monumental locks, picturesque fishermen's houses and a much-used harbor, Zoutkamp has retained the appearance of an old-fashioned fishing village. Try freshly smoked or fried fish, for example at the Gaele Postma fish smokehouse in one of the pastel-colored fishermen's houses on Reitdiepskade.

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16.1 km

View of Lauwersmeer

Highlight • Viewpoint

Here you can enjoy a fantastic view over the Lauwersmeer.

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19.8 km

Observation Tower Lauwersmeer National Park

Highlight • Viewpoint

Beautiful cycling route along the Lauwersmeer, from the lookout tower you have a beautiful view.

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20.8 km

View over the Lauwersmeer

Highlight • Viewpoint

One of the few Dark Sky parks in the Netherlands, where it is still really dark at night. During the day also a beautiful view over the Lauwersmeer. The road is quite busy at times and recently re-built.

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27.3 km

Lauwersmeer Dike and Harbour

Highlight • Structure

Let's hope the wind is blowing in the right direction ;-)

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29.7 km

Viewpoint

31.8 km

View of the Lauwersmeer Sluice and North Sea

Highlight • Viewpoint

Beautiful view from the western side of the Lauwersmeer to the lock/dam to the North Sea

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36.5 km

Lake Lauwersmeer

Highlight • Lake

The Lauwerszee is a former bay in the north of the Netherlands, which was separated from the North Sea by a dike in 1969 and thus became the current Lauwersmeer. It is named after the Lauwers, the river that flows into it and forms the border between the provinces of Groningen and Friesland.

Very beautiful nature.

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38.4 km

Lauwersmeer National Park

Highlight • Natural Monument

The Lauwersmeer National Park is located in the north of the Netherlands, on the border of the provinces of Groningen and Friesland. The area was declared a national park on 12 November 2003 and covers 9000 hectares, of which around 6000 hectares are under the control of the Dutch State Forestry Service (Staatsbosbeheer). The lake is around 2000 hectares in size.

The Lauwerszee, a bay named after the river Lauwers, used to be open to the Wadden Sea. After the storm surge of 1953, a dam was planned for fear of flooding, and was completed in 1969. The bay became a closed lake, now called the Lauwersmeer, and the higher seabed (the former mudflats) was drained. The newly reclaimed land was left completely to itself in the first few years so that the flora and fauna typical of the area could establish themselves.

The area is predominantly open in character, although there is a forest called Ballastplaatbos near Lauwersoog and the Zomerhuisbos forest area in the south near Dokkumer Nieuwe Zijlen. Larger areas of the park are not accessible to the public, while the lake in its deeper areas is also open to boats. The shallow lake and wetlands are not accessible for landscape protection reasons.

Fantastic nature.

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66.5 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

34.6 km

28.2 km

2.59 km

613 m

445 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

49.3 km

11.9 km

5.11 km

175 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Monday 12 October

17°C

9°C

72 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 28.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

September 5, 2024,Tour Lauwersmeer

Today's tour went to the Lauwersmeer National Park! We don't know how to describe this tour, fantastic or other superlatives, we really don't know! From the wild horse herds to a variety of birds that is unparalleled. The fauna and flora are truly unique! We were very impressed, we can't and don't want to say more about it!! Experience it …

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