Drenthe: Moorlands, Prehistory and Cultural Heritage

Discover Drenthe through its varied landscapes and stories: from forests and heathland to prehistoric monuments, museums and places of remembrance. There are also routes to suit different cycling and walking plans, from short paths at VAM Mountain to long-distance routes across the province.

Forests, Heathland and Moorlands

After the Veluwe, the Drents-Friese Wold is the Netherlands’ second-largest contiguous area of forest and heathland. Drenthe also has three national parks and fourteen Natura 2000 sites. In Drentsche Aa National Park, the stream of the same name has meandered through the landscape since time immemorial. The park contains the best-preserved stream and esdorp (traditional village) landscape in Western Europe.

Fochteloërveen is a Natura 2000 raised bog on the border between Drenthe and Friesland. Cranes and white-tailed eagles nest there, and the extremely rare cranberry fritillary is also found there. The area is easily accessible for cycling and walking, as well as for wheelchair users. The Kolonieveld observation tower offers a view across the bog. As conservation work may affect paths and access, it is worth checking conditions before your visit.

Bargerveen is another bog area. It covers about 2,100 hectares and preserves a remnant of the former Bourtange Moor. Its importance includes rare raised-bog grasslands and its role as a nationally significant roosting site for tundra bean geese. Wildlife presence may vary by season.

Traces of Prehistory and Art

The Hunebedcentrum Borger focuses on Drenthe’s prehistory. Fifty-four megalithic tombs still remain in the landscape, and the largest is right next to the centre. The adjacent Oertijdpark also brings this long history to life: visitors can discover how prehistoric people lived in their farmsteads and take a tour through 150,000 years of Drenthe’s history.

The Drents Museum brings together collections on archaeology, art and history. A journey of discovery through 15 galleries features, among other things, the Girl of Yde, the world’s oldest boat and paintings by Van Gogh. The displays may change; if you want to see a particular exhibit, check the latest exhibition details.

Van Gogh’s connection to the province can also be explored in different ways. The Van Gogh Huis Drenthe is the only publicly accessible building preserved in its original condition where Vincent van Gogh actually lived, ate and slept. Several cycling and walking routes through landscapes that inspired him are available there; two of the three cycling routes start at the house. At the Van Gogh Huis in Nieuw-Amsterdam/Veenoord, visitors can also paint like Van Gogh in a workshop. Check in advance which routes and workshops are available.

History and Remembrance

The Colonies of Benevolence in Frederiksoord, Wilhelminaoord and Veenhuizen have been UNESCO World Heritage sites since 2021. Johannes van den Bosch founded them in 1818 so that poor families, beggars and homeless people could live in colonies with their own home and a plot of land to cultivate. The history of the colonies connects a specific social idea with the places where it was put into practice.

The Herinneringscentrum Kamp Westerbork commemorates the deportation of more than 100,000 Jewish people, as well as Roma and Sinti, during the Second World War; 102,000 did not return. The site contains original barracks and the camp commandant’s house. The Nationaal Monument Westerbork includes the remains of the old railway line, with its bent rails. A memorial made of 102,000 stones stands on the former roll-call square; each stone represents a deported person who did not return.

Routes and Active Excursions

Rondje Drenthe is a long-distance cycle route of about 320 kilometres that follows the provincial border in six sections. The route includes a loop to Col du VAM and 29 Kiekplaotsen, with information about special places along the way. The route was fully signposted in 2026; check the current signage and route before setting off. For those who prefer to walk, the Drenthepad is a 324-kilometre long-distance trail with 18 stages that crosses all of Drenthe.

VAM Mountain has a cycling course with three climbs and a descent, as well as 10 kilometres of challenging mountain bike routes and 2 kilometres of walking paths. The different lengths and types of trails help you plan a shorter activity as an alternative to the long-distance routes. The Blinkerd information centre on VAM Mountain offers a place to rest and a view over the Drenthe landscape. Maintenance work or temporary restrictions may change trail conditions; check before your outing.

Discover more destinations: Coevorden, Emmen, Aa en Hunze, Assen, Borger-Odoorn, Hoogeveen, Meppel, Noordenveld, Tynaarlo, Westerveld, Midden-Drenthe, De Wolden.

For the overview of the wider region: Netherlands.