Discover Upleward: Dry Beach and Medieval Church

Upleward combines a 9,000-square-metre recreational area right behind the dike with a medieval village church and a starting point for mudflat walks. At the dry beach, sand, play and water activities meet seating areas, volleyball and beach soccer. The church adds a historic touch: its brick architecture dates back to the 14th century, and a pulpit and traces of older wall paintings have been preserved inside. When planning your trip, you can choose between outdoor activities and a glimpse into the village’s history.

Dry Beach: Play, Water and Sports

The Upleward Dry Beach recreational area is located right behind the dike and covers 9,000 square metres. Sand provides the setting for a varied range of activities: children will find play equipment, water play and a pirate ship, while seating areas round out the space. For active pursuits, there are volleyball and beach soccer facilities. Seating areas also offer an alternative to play and sports activities.

Use of the facilities is free of charge. Toilets, a restroom building, parking and a kiosk are available; access is barrier-free.

A Church with a Visible History of Construction

The church in Upleward was built in the first half of the 14th century as a rectangular, single-nave Gothic brick church. Its elaborate blind arcades divide the exterior walls. Blind arcades are decorative arch forms on a wall surface that do not form window openings; they are complemented by several original pointed-arch windows. There is also a trefoil arch above a former entrance, its shape incorporating three curves. Together, these details show how differently arches can appear on a façade: as wall decoration, as a window shape and as a single motif above the former entrance.

Inside is an 18th-century pulpit. Traces remain of the wall paintings, which may depict consecration crosses. Remains of a sacrament house from the church are on display at the mill museum in nearby Pewsum. The exterior and interior fittings thus offer two different ways to explore the church’s history.

Admission is free during the season; parking is available nearby, and the church can be reached by bus route 422. Before travelling, check the latest information on the dry beach facilities and the church’s seasonal visiting arrangements.

Mudflat Walks and Trip Planning

Mudflat walks start at the kiosk next to the dry beach. The dry beach is listed as a starting point for walks run by the Greetsiel National Park House. Dates and booking requirements for individual tours may vary; take this into account when planning your trip.

When visiting the dry beach, barrier-free access and the facilities available there may be relevant to your plans; for the church, consider its seasonal visiting arrangements, as well as access by bus route 422 or the nearby parking.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Pewsum, Rysum, Eilsum, Campen, Greetsiel, Loquard, Hamswehrum, Visquard.

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