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The Wadden Islands - suppliers of island feeling

The Wadden Islands are the proverbial 'pearls' of Friesland. Four, or actually five in a row. Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. Texel is unfortunately left out on this website because it belongs to the province of North Holland and this website is about Friesland.

One Wadden Island is even more beautiful than the other. They have a few important and popular features in common, the immeasurably long golden sandy beaches.

A few special phenomena occur when visiting one of the Wadden Islands. At times, It can be very busy at departure and arrival and on the boat, but once you are on the island, the crowds spread out over the island and you experience peace and space. All the more when you arrive at the beach. There you have kilometers of sandy beach all to yourself. Another phenomenon is that you recognize the faces of the boat on the island, on the bike path, or on the terrace. You see the same people over and over again. This makes the Wadden Islands appear large and small at the same time.

Although the Wadden Islands all contain the same basic ingredients, such as villages, dunes, and beaches, they are also different from each other in a special way. One island has more forests, the other has more heathland. One more cranberry fields, the other more meadows, and farmyards. One is car-free and the other is not. They all have many kilometers of hiking and biking trails. Youths especially appreciate Terschelling. Ameland attracts families. Nature lovers and bird watchers frequent Schiermonnikoog. Vlieland has a more exclusive character and is popular with celebrities.

One phenomenon remains unspoken, "island feeling". You must have been there to recognize this phenomenon. It starts as soon as the boat has released the ropes and ends when you set foot on the mainland again in Holwerd, Lauwersoog, or Harlingen on your return. Books have been written about it. As far as I know, you only have this island feeling on the Frisian Wadden Islands!

Village of 'Manke Meine' and 'Kromme Knilles'Akkrum is a lively and lovely water sports village. With unique shops and cosy restaurants and cafes. The village is located at the beginning of a route called 'Turfroute'; a magnificent start of a beautiful sailing route.

The building of ‘Coopersbrug’When you walk through the village of Akkrum, you immediately see the building of Coopersbrug. A wonderful building called after mr. F.H. Kuipers. In 1866 he emigrated to America and became a rich businessman. During the yearly visit to his father, he saw the poverty of the elderly people living in the village. He raised a foundation and build the Coopersbrug to support the poor people with housing and provision. The house has a magnificent garden with a carp pond and a sundial.

Single ladiesA building called ‘Welgelegen’ is worth a visit as well. The tea cupola is an eye-catching monument from the 18th century. It is build by Augustinus Lycklema á Nijeholt. In 1924 the former owner passed away and left behind her heritage to the foundation of ‘Welgelegen’. With that money a house was build to provide a home to ‘solitary well-mannered women from the middle classes born out of Frisian parents’.

‘Manke Meine’ and ‘Kromme Knilles’There is an old story about the existence of the name of the village of Akkrum. Around approximately 1400 two giants named ‘Manke Meine’ and ‘Kromme Knilles’ dug a ditch. During their work ‘Knilles’ discoveres a huge curve in the canal. “Ach, Krom!”, he said to Meine. This can be translated as ‘curve’. The farmers heard it and thought this would be a nice name for their village. But the giants got stuck within a conflict. ‘Manke Meine’ dug the ditch straight to the west. This way, the river 'Meinesloot' arised. ‘Knilles’ dug to the east. In his anger he didn't look back and dug the curved 'Kromme Knilles'. A sculpture of the two giants keeps the legend alive.

TipsAkkrum is known for its organisation of sportsmanship, touristy and cultural activities.

• Every year, Akkrum is the stage of two special championships. You can enjoy the Frisian Championship ‘Slingeraap’ on which the main activity is swaying on a rope. The comments are given by the well known lawyer duo Wim and Hans Anker.

• In Akkrum you find the Frisian Championship ‘Mastklimmen’ as well, which can be translated as ‘pole climbing’. Besides, the village is the place of birth of the famous soccer trainer of the national junior soccer team, Foppe de Haan!

Achlum is een terpdorp met een bijzondere vorm. De befaamde Slachtedyk loopt zuidelijk om de oude kern heen, terwijl de Achlumervaart er noordwaarts langs loopt. In het midden ligt het open, afgegraven gedeelte van de terp dat thans als ruim kaatsveld in gebruik is. Op het zuidelijke gedeelte van de hoge terp staat de middeleeuwse kerk met diaconiewoningen en pastorie en westelijk daarvan de zogenoemde "kloosterplaats" een monumentale 18de-eeuwse kop-hals-rompboerderij.

Noordelijker staat in een levendig ritme hoofdzakelijk 19de-eeuwse bebouwing langs de vaart, waarbij vooral van de meer oostelijk gelegen huizen de bijzondere pannen op de daken opvallen. Dat zijn de rood of blauw geglazuurde Lucas IJsbrandpannen met een leivormig patroon, ontwikkeld in Makkum en op het panwerk van Achlum nagemaakt in de periode rond 1900. Bij de vaart staat tussen de schilderachtige bebouwing de karakteristieke voormalige dorpsherberg. Ten westen van de dorpskom is enige bedrijvigheid te vinden en de dorpsuitbreidingen hebben na de oorlog vooral in het oosten, aan de andere kant van de Hitzumerweg plaats gevonden.

De hervormde kerk staat op de hoge terprest. Het gebouw is in oorsprong 12de-eeuws, de sporen van romaanse bogen en dichtgezette venstertjes zijn nog in stukken tufstenen muurwerk te zien, vooral aan de noordzijde. Daar zit een fraai, maar onthoofd reliëf van roze Bremer zandsteen uit de 14de eeuw in het muurwerk. De toren dateert uit de 15de eeuw en de houten bekroning met spitsje is van 1789. Inwendig heeft de kerk een gave protestantse inrichting met vroeg-17de-eeuws meubilair. Tegen de buitenkant van de zuidelijke muur staat een herinneringsplaat voor Ulbe Piers Draisma, een boer die in 1811 de eerste onderlinge brandwaarborg van Friesland oprichtte.

Ten oosten van Achlum staat ten noorden van de Slachtedyk op een omgracht terrein Groot Deersum, nu een 18de-eeuwse boerderij, maar voorheen een state waarvan de stinspoort nog boven de gracht staat. De enige in Friesland die voorzien is van trapgevels.


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