Nij Beets
Nij Beets is a young regional village, founded by peat laborers, which came into existence when peat extraction began around 1860. The village lies on land where the old village of Beets once lay.
Photo © Marcel van Kammen
Tough times for workers
Workers in Nij Beets used to live and work under very poor conditions. This caused many protests and social struggles. In museum It Damshûs you can learn more about this period. The museum shows how people made peat between 1863 and 1920 and what their daily lives were like. You'll also discover how the landscape changed as a result of peat extraction.
The Polderhead Canal
Through Nij Beets runs the Polderhoofdkanaal. This canal was reopened in July 2015. This re-established a connection between the Turfroute and National Park De Âlde Feanen. From It Damshûs and the Sudergemaal it is possible to explore the area by boat. One of the boats, the Lytse Turfbok, is a restored wooden boat formerly used to transport peat. This tour takes you through the canal to the beautiful old part of the small river It Alddjip (Koningsdiep).
