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The Opsterlandse Compagnonsvaart is a canal 34 km long, running from the Nieuwe Vaart in Gorredijk to the Drentse Hoofdvaart in Smilde, and is part of the Friesian peat route. Digging started in the 17th century. Only after 200 years of digging was the end point of the Opsterlandse Compagnonsvaart reached. At the beginning of the 18th century, the first part of the canal came into the hands of the Lyclama á Nyeholt family. With relatives, they formed the Opsterlandse Compagnons, and subsequently the family purchased large tracts of peatland along the entire route. This acquired their great economic power in the area. The Compagnonsvaart was of great significance for the whole area. Not only because of the peat canal, but as a transport artery for supplying shops, passenger transport, supplying building materials, fertiliser, etc. and transporting clay soil to the sandy soils. Thanks to this Compagnonsvaart, the entire area was able to develop economically. Not forgetting how wretched the conditions were for the peat diggers, shiploaders and other workers. The small group of wealthy became increasingly wealthy, however. For years now, the function of De Compagnonsvaart has been mainly for recreational boating. Nevertheless, it was not so long ago that a few special activities were offered via water, namely the "pot skipper" and the "scissors grinder". The pot skipper sailed past villages with a ship full of pots and pans, so people could visit his shop on the ship. For scissor sharpening, one boarded the scissor sharpener's small ship, where the scissor sharpener had a grindstone on wheels.