Wijckel brings together forest history, water and a carefully designed landscape. The Wikelerbosk, also known as Van Coehoornsbos, is located in Wijckel: a deciduous forest of 11 hectares, laid out around 1860 in the French geometric style. Grand avenues and rectangular plots define its layout. There is also a viewpoint overlooking the Slotermeer in winter and traces of a former country estate. The village can therefore be explored through several different features, without reducing them to a single excursion idea.
Wikelerbosk: Layout and Paths
The Wikelerbosk is freely open to the public all year round, and its paths can be walked throughout the year. There is parking near the Reformed Church for visitors to the forest. From there, it is another 100 metres to the forest entrance. This information helps you find your way at the start, while the avenues and rectangular plots give the deciduous forest its distinctive character. Here, a walk in the greenery meets a clearly structured historic landscape.
In winter, the Grutte Berch in the Wikelerbosk offers a view of the Slotermeer. This gives the forest a seasonal viewpoint in addition to its paths and geometric design. Wijckel lies on the Slotermeer, making it especially appealing to travellers who value water and nature during their stay. The winter view and the paths, which are accessible year-round, are distinct features: one is seasonal, while the other is available throughout the year.
Traces of Earlier Landscape Design
The former Meerenstein country estate once stood in the middle of the Wikelerbosk. The estate itself was demolished long ago, while the surrounding parkland has been preserved. The history of a vanished estate and a surviving park landscape therefore coexist here. Those interested in the cultural landscape will find a link between the site’s former use and its surroundings today.
The village also has an architectural detail to discover: on Menno van Coehoornweg stands a particularly charming little house beneath a pitched roof with gables. The year 1831 can be seen on a decorative feature on the facade. The roof shape, gables and facade detail offer a glimpse of Wijckel’s built history. The house is a feature in its own right; the story of the former country estate and the preserved parkland tell a different part of the village’s history.
Walks and Routes
Near Wijckel is Wikeler Hop, a Staatsbosbeheer nature reserve reached via the path by the Wikelerbosk. A longer walk there passes through meadows and reed beds along the Slotermeer to De Baaier beach. This offers a different landscape experience from the paths through the designed deciduous forest: avenues and rectangular plots define the character of the Wikelerbosk, while meadows, reed beds and the route to the beach take centre stage at Wikeler Hop.
Another route option is the Elfstedenpad. From Wijckel, it continues to Sloten (19); after a circuit through Sloten, the route returns to Wijckel via junctions 40 and 32. As the numbering may change when junctions are updated, check the numbers before setting off. This lets you take the stated sequence of destination, circuit and return journey into account when planning your own route.
Practical Information
The Theetuin Wijckel is temporarily closed. Bear this in mind when planning your visit and instead focus on the paths, landscapes and village features described here. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay in Wijckel, these different highlights can help you decide: spend more time in the forest and exploring its history, or make room for a longer walk in the surrounding area as well.
Discover more destinations: Balk, Sleat, Sondel, Rijs, Harich, Oudemirdum.
Return to the main travel overview: Gaasterlân-Sleat.
