A26 Route 48. ASSEN.

(661/ M.) Steenwyk (Bellevue). The last is a small town of 6000
inhab., in the vicinity of which lie the pauper colonies of Frederiks-
cord, Wilhelminasoord, and Willemsoord, founded by a charitable
society in 1817,

From (80!/p M.) Heerenveen (Hotel Jorissen, R. & B. 413/4-
24/5 fl.), a town with 4400 inhab., situated in a pretty district,
with numerous country-seats, excursions may be made to (3/4 hr.)
Oranjewoud and (2 hrs.) Olterterp. Steam-tramways run via Joure
to Lemmer and to Sneek (p. 446) and via Drachten to Veenwouden
and Dokkum. — To the left is the Sneeker Meer. Numerous wind-
mills are used for purposes of drainage. 87M. Akkrum; 90M.
Grouw-Irnsum ; 93 M. Wirdum.

98 M. Leeuwarden, see p. 416.

The MEPPEL AND GRONINGEN Linge at first turns towards the E.,
and follows the course of the small Oude Diep. 61 M. (from Amers-
foort) Ruinerwold; 63 M. Koekange; 67M. Echten. At (70 M.)
Hoogeveen the Protestants are summoned to church, according to
an ancient custom, by beat of drum. Here the stream is quitted,
and the line turns to the N. — Between (77 M.) Beilen and Hoog-
halen the Oranje Kanaal is crossed.

86 M. Assen (Hotel Somer, 25 R. at 11/9-2, B. 1/., D. 13/4 f1.),
a town with 13,000 inhab., partly concealed by woods, is the capital
of the province of Drenthe. The Provincial Offices, built in the
Gothic style by J. van Lokhorst, occupy the site of the nunnery of
Assen, which was suppressed at the time of the Reformation. The
church, which is now used as the Town Hall, and part of the cloisters
(43th cent.) are still extant. An annexe contains the Archives and
a Provincial Museum. — A branch-railway runs from Assen to
(161/ M.) Stadskanaal (p. 424) via Rolde, Eext, Gieten, and other
stations. The district traversed contains numerous prehistoric
tumuli or ‘giants’ graves’ (‘Hunebedden’). The huge stones which
mark these spots, recalling those of Stonehenge, are glacier-borne
boulders from Scandinavia.

Beyond Assen the line follows the course of the Oude Aa, at
some distance from the stream. Just short of (93 M.) Vries-Zuidlaren,
on the right, close to the railway, is an excellent specimen of a
tumulus (steam-tramway to Groningen, see p.420). 951/) M. De
Punt; 98 M. Haren.

102 M, Groningen, see p. 449.

 

49. From Groningen to Bremen.

107M. Durce Rartway (no express-trains) to Nieuweschans or Neuschanz,
8 M., in ca. 11/4 hr.; O~pENsuRG RaiLway thence to Bremen, 78 M., in
1/p-Al/, hrs.

Groningen, p. 419. The line generally skirts a canal called the
Schuiten or Winschoter Diep. That part of the province of Groningen

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