Hayema Heerd

Head out on bikes, on foot or in canoes and you may well spot quite a bit of the local wildlife (spoonbills, peregrine falcons and flamingos are among the birds that may put in an appearance). If you want a bit more animal action, make for the micro world of the DoeweZoo insect zoo (15 minutes’ drive), the seal rehab centre in Pieterburen (20 minutes) or the marine creatures of AquaZoo Friesland (40 minutes). For a blast of sea air, it’ll take you around 25 minutes to drive to the North Sea coast for walks and bike rides along the trails of the Lauwersmeer National Park or boat trips to the secluded island of Schiermonnikoog from Lauwersoog. If you’re interested in the area’s fishy past, stop by at the fishing museum in Zoutkamp (15 minutes); an eel smokery on site makes it a fine lunch stop too. Time for an urban outing? Get down to Groningen (20 minutes) for canalside strolls, vintage shops, café culture, traditional Dutch houses and moseying around museums.