Frisian Way

The Frisian Way was a medieval trade route and imperial road in the northwest of Germany. It had a length of about 220 km and linked the town of Norden in East Frisia with Münster in Westphalia.

Course

The Frisian Way ran from Norden to Emden roughly along the line of the present day federal roads, the B 72 and B 210. From Emden it ran approximately along the route of the B 31 to Leer. In Leer it crossed the Ems and then ran southwards roughly parallel to the Ems on its left bank to Münster. It followed the approximate course of the B 436, the L 31, K 155 and 156, L 48, K 34, L 40, K 327, L 39 and 501, the federal roads of the B 481 and B 219.

From Leer there was an eastern road to Oldenburg that continued to Bremen. In Weener a road branched off west to Winschoten and from there to Groningen. From Rhede there was a junction with an easterly road to Aschendorf which continued via the geest ridges of the Hümmling to Haselünne to the Flemish Way. South of Heede another road from Winschoten to the trade route of the Hümmling crossed the Frisian Way. West of Meppen another road branches off to Haselünne. Southwest of Lingen the Flemish Way crosses the Frisian Way. In Rheine there were other roads running to Osnabrück and Enschede. In Münster there were links to Cologne, Coesfeld, Gronau and via Warendorf to Paderborn.