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🇳🇱Groningen — Lauwersmeer

Marnewaard

Updated: July 15, 2026

The Marnewaard is a military training area on the Wadden coast of Groningen, near the Lauwersmeer in the north of the Netherlands. The area is used by the Royal Netherlands Army and forms an important location for infantry and amphibious exercises. Because of its coastal location, units can train on the transition between land and water, something few other areas in the Netherlands offer.

The terrain is characterised by flat salt marshes, open flats and water-rich zones, with virtually no elevation difference. That bare, wide-open environment places particular demands on orientation, as landmarks are scarce. For exchanging positions in a NATO context, MGRS is the standard on this type of terrain. On this page you'll find the MGRS zone, terrain features and an interactive map and 3D view.

On the map

Marnewaard OpenStreetMap

MilMap on this ground

On the flat, water-rich Marnewaard there are barely any landmarks to navigate by. With MilMap you convert every position into an unambiguous MGRS coordinate and share it directly with your team during amphibious or infantry exercises. The interactive map and flyover help you map out routes along salt marshes and water clearly in advance.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Marnewaard?

The Marnewaard is located in the province of Groningen on the Wadden coast, near the Lauwersmeer, and covers roughly 15 km² of flat salt-marsh and water-rich terrain.

Which MGRS zone applies to the Marnewaard?

The Marnewaard falls in UTM grid zone 32U. The exact MGRS coordinate of the centre point is shown at the top of this page.