Johans Kayak Site   www.kanoroutes.nl

Winsum
CONTENT

Two routes are described on this page:

Kayak rentals:

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

Starting points Winsum

Marenland: From Groningen you follow the directions towards Winsum. Coming from Drachten on the A7 you take exit 31. You exit the beltway (Ring) on the N361 towards Winsum. When you enter Winsum you turn left at the sign "Marenland" and follow the narrow road parallel to the N361. At the end of the road you come at Marenland. There is a restaurant and a camping with cabins.

Another possible launching place is at kayak club k.v. Winsum, at the Schouwerzijlsterweg along the Winsumerdiep. From the N361 you pass the bridge and at the roundabout you turn left towards Schouwerzijl and then left again. It's just outside the town. You can park a little further to the right along the driveway to the water treatment plant

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.

Downloadable GPS-track (23.3 km): WinsumBaflo.gpx.

Round trip of 23.3 km. passed Mensingeweer and Baflo.

If you start at Onderdendam you head west on the Winsumerdiep. After the railroad bridge of Winsum you can turn right for a small detour. You pass a kayak pier where is a supermarket. More beautiful is the Winsumerdiep passed the old center of the town. You pass the kayak rental place Marenland. There is a camping and they have hotel rooms. Just outside the town you pass the kayak club of Winsum. There is a public pier, so this is a good alternative starting point. A little further you turn right on the canal Mensingeweersterloopdiep. There are many trees on both side, and from the end of July you can pick lots of black berries. About halfway there is a kayak pier on the left, and another one on the right with a path to the nearby cultural center "Op Maarhuizen". The next kayak pier is at the footbridge near the windmill. The long distance walking trail Pieterpad passes across the bridge. A little further you turn right and follow the canal towards Baflo. After the village you turn right on the Rasquerdermaar. At the end of the canal you turn left at the T-junction towards Onderdendam. For Winsum you turn right here.

Starting point Onderdendam.

Bridge "Zijlvesterbrug" in Onderdendam.

Kayak pier at the supermarket in Winsum.

Winsum.

Winsum.

Bridge "De Boog" in Winsum.

Marenland.

Mensingeweersterloopdiep.

Footbridge in Mensingeweer.
There is a kayak pier on the left.

Mill "Hollands Welvaart" in Mensingeweer.

The end of July is blackberry time.

Landscape along the Canal Mensingeweer-Baflo.

Rasquerdermaar.

Rasquerdermaar.

Round trip of 25 km passed Feerwerd, Ezinge and Mensingeweer

Downloadable GPS-track (24.5 km): WinsumFeerwerd.gpx.

Round trip of 25 km passed Feerwerd, Ezinge and Mensingeweer

From the starting point you head west on the Winsumerdiep. After a short distance you come at the locks to the Reitdiep, the Schaphalsterzijl. There is a movable weir for kayaks. Press the black button to operate it. The weir will move down. Pass the weir when you see two green lights by pulling on the rail against the current. Portage is also possible: there are floating kayak piers. When you come at the Reitdiep you turn left and follow the bends. On your right you pass a kayak pier with a viewpoint where you can take a break. A little further you turn right on the Aduarderdiep. There are two entrances. The second one has locks, but they are open. You pass the Camping Aduarderzijl with a small marina. After 1.7 km. you turn right towards Feerwerd. After Feerwerd you come at Ezinge. There is a pier where you can go to the side. At the bridge is restaurant "Café de Brug". In the Torenstraat is a grocery shop "Buurtsuper Ubels". After a short distance you turn right on the Kleefsloot. At the end of the canal you come at the Reitdiep here you turn right. After 2.2 km you turn left on the Kromme Raken. Around the corner there is a floating pier where you can swim. A little further there is an inlet on your left with a kayak-pier. You pass the locks at Schouwerzijl. They are open. Then you keep going staigt on. After a bridge of main road N361 you turn right at the pumping station Abelstok. There are locks with a movable weir for kayaks. They are not operatal. You enter the passage, and your weight presses the weir down. It may cause scratches on the bottom of your kayak. You better go out and pull the kayak with a rope across the weir. You're now on the Mensingerweersterloopdiep. A little further you turn right under a bridge and you pass Mensingeweer. At the end of the canal you turn left towards Winsum.
In Winsum you can make a small round trip. In the center there is a kayak pier along the side canal where you can go to the shops.

Locks Schaphalsterzijl between the Winsumerdiep and the Reitdiep.
There is a weir where you can pass with the kayak. Press the black button to operate it. The weir will move down. Pass the weir when you see two green lights by pulling on the rail against the current.

Swallow nests at the weir.

Footferry "Reitdiepveer" on the Reitdiep. It runs between the locks Schaphalsterzijl and the camping in Aduarderzijl.

Viewpoint at the kayak-pier along the Reitdiep.

The locks to the Aduarderdiep are open.

Bridge across the Aduarderdiep. You turn right here on the Oldehoofs Kanaal.

Oldehoofs Kanaal.

Oldehoofs Kanaal near Feerwerd.

There is a kayak pier in Ezinge.
At the bridge is restaurant "Café de Brug". In the Torenstraat is a grocery shop "Buurtsuper Ubels"

Kleefsloot.

Floating pier near Schouwerzijl. You can go for a swim here.

The locks at Schouwerzijl are open.
There is a kayak-pier in the inlet on the left.

Bike-road along the Kromme Raken. There is a kayak-pier.