River Lauwers (NL) to River Ems (DE)
- Length: 170 km (105 miles) in 8 sections
- Terrain: flat
- Region: East Frisia
From the River Lauwers to the River Ems, marking the border between the province of Groningen in the Netherlands and the region of Ostfriesland in Germany. When you cross the border between Germany and the Netherlands at the town of Bad Nieuwenschans you are about halfway the trail — a thousand kilometres behind you…
Trail Sections
- section 5.1: Zoutkamp — Piloersmaborg
- section 5.2: Piloersmaborg — Ezinge
- section 5.3: Ezinge — Saaxumhuizen
- section 5.4: Saaxumhuizen — Warffum
- section 5.5: Warffum — Uithuizen
- section 5.6: Uithuizen — Delfzijl
- section 5.7: Delfzijl — Termunten
- section 5.8: Termunten — Bad Nieuweschans
Description
According to the early-medieval law code the Lex Frisionum ‘Law of the Frisians’ this area belonged to the sub-region East Frisia, the area inter Laubachi et Wisaram ‘between [the rivers] Lauwers and Weser’.
The coastal area of present-day province of Groningen, named the region of Ommelanden used to be a salt-marsh area. This was part of the terp region stretching from the (former) River Vlie to the River Weser in Germany, although in the province of Noord Holland in the Netherlands and in Landkreis Nordfriesland in Germany, also terps have been built. Terps, i.e., artificial dwelling mounds, are called a wierde in the province of Groningen, and a Warft or Wurt in Germany. Read our Manual Making a Terp in only 12 Steps to learn more about these earthworks.
At the coast, the UNESCO-protected Wadden Sea stretches from the Netherlands’ north coast along Germany to the southern tip of Denmark. The Wadden Sea is separated from the North Sea by a ridge of many islands.
Along the coast of the mainland salt-marshes still exist outside and unprotected by the high sea dikes.
The region of Ommelanden, just like that of the coastal area of the province of Friesland, stage 4 of the Frisia Coast Trail, was in the Roman Period partly the territory of the Frisii maiores ‘major Frisians’, including parts of the current province of Drenthe. Read our blog post The Killing Fields — that of the Celts. The eastern part of the province of Groningen might have been the territory of the Chauci. A tribe known for its large-scale piracy and who caused more than a headache to the Romans. Read our blog post Our civilization — it all began with priracy.
The Frisian language has disappeared for centuries and was replaced bij the Grunnings dialect of the Low-Saxon language.
Photo’s
For a first, visual impression of this stage, click here.
Frisia Coast Trail 