Meppel, Zwartsluis, Wanneperveen

From Meppel, cycle towards the lake district in the Kop van Overijssel and you will come to Blauwe Hand (Blue Hand), a small but special place with a striking name. There are various legends and stories about the name.

One of the most remarkable stories tells of an inn where a fight took place around 1578 between a pedlar and the innkeeper. During this fight, the hand of a friend of the innkeeper was cut off and placed in spirits of wine. After a while, this hand turned blue, and that is how the inn, and later the surrounding area, supposedly got the name ‘Blue Hand’.

Another explanation suggests that the name comes from an inn that used to be located here. Legend has it that a traveller in the inn had painted his hand blue, which drew attention and gave the inn its well-known name.

Today it is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts, with wide lakes such as the Beulakerwijde and Belterwijde where you can see sailing boats, canoes and sloops passing by. The cycle paths take you along beautiful stretches of water and over bridges spanning the canals.

After Blauwe Hand you will arrive in Zwartsluis, a lively village with a rich maritime history. This was once an important trading centre for peat, fish and grain. The final stage begins here: the road along the Zwarte Water (Black Water).

The Zwarte Water is a river that flows from Zwolle to Zwartsluis and empties into the Zwarte Meer. You will cycle along this river through a beautiful landscape of reed beds, green pastures and old dykes. Nearby is the historic Zwartewaterklooster, once a resting place for noble nuns and knights who had fought their last battle. Could the dark colour of the water be due to its depth, the bottom or perhaps a touch of magic? Who knows!