Poelen route

The Poelen area is a unique piece of unspoiled countryside, ideal for a trip in an (electric) boat or paddling around by canoe or SUP.

The Poelen area is located between the watersports villages of Heeg, Gaastmeer and Oudega (SWF), and is a unique piece of unspoiled countryside. It is a series of fens, narrow ditches and babbling streams amidst dense reed lands and so-called bûterlan, low-lying, naturally managed meadows. 

Vast panoramas of villages and farms with the occasional church tower in the distance is what makes the Poelen area so typically Frisian. While navigating the narrow channels and ditches, it sometimes feels like you’re many miles away in some other country. This region is almost entirely uninhabited, with only a few farms lining its edges. The Poelen area is managed by the Dutch Forestry Commission and is a designated nature reserve. It is home to part of the Skriezekrite Idzegea, a bird sanctuary designed specially to protect the godwit population. 

The most important attractions of this beautiful area are nature, tranquillity and silence. Visitors are therefore expected to respect these values and to help support them where possible. The area is accessible for small boats such as dinghies, canoes and open sailing boats. This sailing route with its tunnels and passageways connects the villages of Gaastmeer, Oudega and Heeg, taking you to the hamlet of Idzegea: two farms, one house and the beautifully situated little cemetery with its own belfry. On the shores of the Idzegeaster Poel, you’ll find a birdwatching shelter from which you can observe the very varied bird population in the Poelen area. Boats up to 2.50 m long and no taller than 1.25 m can follow the route from Heeg to Gaastmeer, connecting to the waters around Gaastmeer. 

By providing the tunnels and signposting the routes, the villages of Heeg, Gaastmeer and Oudega want to welcome guests to their area, to enjoy this valuable countryside in an appropriate manner. 

Relax and enjoy the tranquillity of this wonderful spaciousness!

The Poelen and Reidmarr routes are available from the tourist information centre (VVV) in Heeg, but also from other tourist information locations in Southwest Friesland.