kayak route to Usquert

Round trip from Onderdendam to Usquert and Uithuizen 32.8 km.

Two portages (or pass through the self-service locks).
Without the detours to Usquert and Uithuizen, the route is 28.7 km.

Kayak rentals:

Winsum: Marenland, Winsumerdiep 6, 9951 CG Winsum. Tel.: 0595-442750.

Starting point Onderdendam

From the town Groningen you head north on the N46 in the direction Eemshaven. Exit towards Bedum (N994). At Bedum you head north on the N995 towards Onderdendam. You drive along the Boterdiep. In Onderdendam the road makes a bend to the left. At the indersection with the N996 (Middelstum) you go straight on in the direction Winsum. A little further you turn right. You see the canal with a small parking place on the left. At the pier there is a low site for launching a kayak.

Route of 32.8 km

From the startng point you turn left (west). Outside the village you turn right on the Rasquerdermaar. You pass a marina. The first side-canal is a dead end at a pumping station. Portage is difficult, so you go straigt on in stead. After a bend to the left you turn right under a bridge. After 700 meters you turn right. In the bend to the left there is a kayak-pier. Portage towards Stitswerd is possible. You follow the bend to the left. At the T-junction you turn left on the Usquerdermaar. After 2.1 km you come at locks and a pumping station. There are good floating kayak piers, so portage is easy. You can also go through the self-service locks (press button). This is a nice quiet place for a break. A little further the Usquerdermaar turns left towards Usquert. When you enter the village there is a kayak pier on the left. At the end of the canal is a small marina. You can go out here too if you find a place. You turn back here and at the T-junction you turn left on the Helwerdermaar. This former river is narrow, and the further you come the more bends and reed. Also in the summertime there can be a lot of duckweed that slows you down. Finally you come at an intersection where you can turn left towards Uithuizen. When you enter the village there is a boatramp on your left where you can go out. At the end of the canal is a small marina where you also can go out if you find a place. The last section to the center of the village is closed. The passage under the bridge is blocked.
You turn back and head south on the Boterdiep. You pass the village Doodstil (means "dead silent"). When you come at a junction you don't go under the bridge, but turn left on the main canal. You keep going straight on passed the villages Kantens and Middelstum. When you come at a T-junction, you turn right on the Winsumerdiep. After 1.5 km you come at locks and a pumping station. The locks are self-service (press button). There is a pier, but it's meant for waiting boats. There are no kayak piers. With a little efford you can go out here and portage passed the locks. From here it's only a small distance back to the starting point.

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