Winschoten, Bad Nieuweschans, Blauwestad

Moving three times without having to pack a box. The residents of Bad Nieuweschans were able to do just that: the border town and spa was called ‘just’ Nieuweschans until 2009 and before that it was Langakkerschans. The former fortified town has no fewer than 46 national monuments and of course a spa with mineral-rich water from its own spring.

Winschoten has two beautiful parks: the Sterrebos, laid out in 1826 and redesigned in 1907 by landscape architect Leonard Springer; and the large city park with six hectares of water features. You will also find the largest rose garden in the Netherlands here. Beerta has a number of meandering gardens. These gardens in the English landscape style were laid out by wealthy farmers from the province of Groningen.

And finally, in the middle of the Oldambtmeer lake, you will pass Blauwestad: an area that was once farmland, but has now been completely developed as a recreational and residential area. You will feel like you are on an island for a while! You will return to the ‘mainland’ via the Pieter Smitbrug and De Blauwe Loper.