Monk's Path
Along the vanished monasteries of NE Friesland
Once, Friesland was teeming with monasteries. Especially in Northeast Friesland, they could be found everywhere, and at their peak, monasteries owned as much as 20% of Frisian land. The monks and nuns not only prayed but also worked on peat reclamation and initiated the construction of dikes, polders, canals, and locks.
Nowadays, there is little left of the former monastic life.
In 1580, the monasteries were expropriated and demolished, and many stones were reused for other buildings.
But if you look closely, you can still discover traces: centuries-old church paths, historical locks, and dikes once built by monks.
How fun is it to discover this hidden history for yourself?
Hop on your bike, follow old monastery paths, and enjoy the beautiful Frisian landscape along the way!
 
In Veenklooster – you guessed it – there was also a monastery;
Mons Olivetti, the Mount of Olives.
The site of this former convent of nuns is the starting point of our trips.

Are you biking along??

You can cycle the routes at your leisure from June 7, 2025.

The routes in RouteYou contain information about all the interesting points you pass along the way and where history lies from the monk's time.

The route can be cycled as a whole in one go as a route of nearly 150km but can also be done in 3 separate routes.

Full route 150km: https://www.routeyou.com/nl-nl/route/view/15031541

South Route 65km: https://www.routeyou.com/nl-nl/route/view/15850277

North-West Route 77km: https://www.routeyou.com/nl-nl/route/view/15850282

North-East Route 57km: https://www.routeyou.com/nl-nl/route/view/15850336