Walking route birds and mummies

(21.6 km)

Walk through the Greidhoek and discover the history, protected meadow bird areas, and the centuries-old mummy cellar in the Nicolaaskerk Wiuwert.

The name 'Greidhoek' is derived from the Frisian word 'greide', meaning grassland on clay. This area used to be the bottom of an ancient sea. People built mounds and dikes to live here, allowing them to cultivate the fertile land. This created the beautiful landscape with meadows and charming mound villages that we see today.

In the Greidhoek, you can uncover interesting stories about the Frisian dairy industry, protected areas for meadow birds, and there are great opportunities for cycling and hiking, such as this walking route through the beautiful area. Not only do you walk through the beautiful Greidhoek and past meadows during this walking route, but also along the mummy cellar in the Nicolaaskerk in Wiuwert.

In …

Walk through the Greidhoek and discover the history, protected meadow bird areas, and the centuries-old mummy cellar in the Nicolaaskerk Wiuwert.

In 1765, carpenters in Wiuwert discovered seven natural mummies in the church. These bodies remained well preserved in the cellar. Most of them deteriorated in later examinations, but four bodies remained intact: a fourteen-year-old girl, a woman, a man with a jaw abscess, and a goldsmith. The mystery surrounding these ancient mummies remains unsolved.

Storyline Space
Skrins is part of the Storyline Space. Through twelve special locations in the Waterland of Friesland, you embark on a 'space journey'. Listen to the podcast here.

Sights on this route

Wommels

Wommels is a mound village located in the heart of the Greidhoek. Every year, the Freulepartij is played in Wommels, which is a highlight on the village's calendar.

Jacobikerk Church

The Jacobikerk church stands on the terp in the village of Wommels. The single-nave church built in the 13th century was restored after a fire in around 1508. In the three-tier tower built in 1862 there are two bells. One was cast by Geert van Wou in 1494

Skrok Meadow Bird Reserve

The Skrok meadow bird reserve between the villages of Wommels and Easterein is a protected area where many birds come to forage and roost. In the spring, the flower-filled grasslands are perfect for nesting.

Skrok - Bird hide

Meadow Bird Reserve near Wommels.

Sint Jorischurch Britswert

Although there are no mummies to be seen in the church of Britswerd, it is interesting to visit this 12th-century house of worship, constructed from yellow Frisian bricks.

Wieuwerd

Wieuwerd is a mummy village in the northern part of Southwest Friesland.

Mummy Crypt in Wiuwert

In 1765, carpenters working in St Nicholas Church in Wiuwert had the fright of their lives when they unexpectedly came across seven perfectly preserved bodies in the crypt. The carpenters fled from the church in panic.

Skrins Meadow Bird Reserve

The Skrins meadow bird reserve between the villages of Wommels and Oosterlittens is a popular foraging and roosting spot for many birds. In the spring, the flower-filled grasslands are perfect for nesting.

Skrins - Bird watching cabin

Meadow bird sanctuary.

Hinnaard Bell Tower

The village of Hinnaard was built on a mound. The village graveyard, which is also on the mound, is surrounded by elm trees and an elm tree hedge. Some of the headstones mark more recent graves but others date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. In the m

Reformed Church Iens

The more than forty inhabitants of Iens easily fit into this picturesque church. The northern wall and tower date back to the thirteenth century, while the choir and southern wall were renewed in 1874 during an expansion. On the corner of the church...

Path along the Bolswardertrekvaart (Bolsward Canal).

A beautiful walking and cycling path along the tow canal of the Bolsward to Leeuwarden canal, near Burgwerd. The path is also referred to as a towpath.

Museum It Tsiispakhûs

The village of Wommels has a rich history in the field of butter-but even more so in the cheese trade. The many still clearly recognisable cheese merchant houses in Wommels are a reminder of that time, which lasted from ca. 1880 to 1910.