Gemeente Dantumadiel

Engels

The municipality Dantumadiel has a surface of 8,700 hectares and lies directly north above the highway of Leeuwarden-Groningen and south of the town Dokkum. The municipality counts 19,556 inhabitants (1 January 2006), and is a country municipality with three larger villages: Damwoude (where the town-hall is situated), Veenwouden and Zwaagwesteinde and seven small villages. De Valom, Broeksterwoude, Rinsumageest, Sijbrandahuis, Wouterswoude, Driesum and Roodkerk. Veenwoudsterwal belongs partly to Dantumadiel. The other half falls within the territory of Tytsjerksteradiel. 

Landscape
The landscape of the municipality Dantumadiel characterises itself partly by the closed and "smûke" (cozy,friendly) character of the “Frisian-woudstreek” (rich landschape of woods) with a high level of pleistocene sand grounds, which have arisen outside the direct influence of the sea. This area (between Rinsumageest, Driesum and the Valom) forms the northwest embranchement of the Drents plateau. Outside this area, the slide landscape proceeds into an open and wide landscape, “called Bûtenfjild” between Rinsumageast, Broeksterwâld, Feanwâlden and Readtsjerk. These grounds lie below the sea level and forms the embranchement of the extended layer peat area that is well known as the “Frieslands Lage Midden”. Through Dantumadiel are five significant channels. De Dokkumer Ee to the North West side, a very important sailing route between Dokkum and Leeuwarden; De Stroobosser Trekvaart to the North East side; De Zwemmer on the southeast side and de Veenwoudsterwalvaart to the southwest side. De Valomstervaart runs straight through the municipality. These channels are becoming more meaningful, particularly De Zwemmer is important for the water recreation. This canal is an important link between the Frisian lake area and the Lauwersmeer area.

Recreation
The municipality Dantumadiel is rich in nature and offers several possibilities for recreation. The municipality has strongly invested the last years in the recreational infrastructure and has a number of nature areas such as “De Houtwiel”, “Sippenfenne” and the “Ottema Wiersmareservaat”. These areas are generally accessible for everyone who loves the nature and from Feanwâldsterwâl you can with the canoe and the fluisterboten (boots with a silent engine) enjoy the other nature area. When you walk or cycle through “de Goddeloze Singel” you can see the nature area “De Houtwiel”. In the whole municipality are possibilities of spending the night at one of the many (mini)camping’s, Bed and Breakfast or in one of the two hotels. In the field of day recreation it is possible to swim in the Eeltjemeer by Rinsumageast, Rinsma-Pôle by Driezum en there is a field in De Westereen that is in development. Besides there are possibilities of renting canoes, to “fierljeppen” (a Frisian tradition where one climb in a fast tempo to the top of the pole and spring from one side of the ditch to the other side) and there is also a playground in De Westereen. There are paths where you can walk and cycle along several routes and historical curiosities.

Future vision
The mission of the municipality Dantumadiel is to be known nationally as a safe, green, livable and healthy municipality. To realise this are four central pillars needed; the social, physical, economic pillar and the pillar quality of governance Several goals have been formulated by each pillar. You can find the future vision of the municipality on this website.