Eext: Village History, Brink Squares and Hunebeds

Eext brings village history and prehistory together on several levels. The De Kluis Village Museum presents the village’s history through archaeological finds and displays tools from former craft workshops. Preserved brink squares, farmsteads and hunebeds add architectural and archaeological evidence to this picture. You’ll encounter not only individual buildings with specific dates, but also monuments that stand out for their size or cultural-historical classification.

Village History and Craftsmanship

The De Kluis Village Museum displays tools from former craft workshops in the surrounding area, including a wheelwright’s workshop and a smithy. This places archaeological finds relating to Eext’s history alongside objects from past craft activities. From June to September, the museum is open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.; visits are also possible by appointment. If you’re planning a museum visit, check the seasonal opening hours before you arrive.

Brink Squares and Farmsteads

Seven brink squares planted with oak trees have been preserved in Eext. On Zuiderbrink, one of the larger brink squares in Drenthe, stands a shepherd’s hut dating from 1642. Here, two different time frames sit side by side: the number seven describes the preserved brink squares, while the year 1642 refers to a specific building on Zuiderbrink.

Several hall-house farmsteads stand along Gieterstraat and Kerkstraat. They were built partly or entirely in the 18th or 19th century. Unlike the shepherd’s hut, which has a specific construction date, these farmsteads span two centuries. The streets and this broader time frame offer a different perspective on the area’s architectural history from the single, precisely dated building on Zuiderbrink.

Hunebeds and Archaeological Classification

Hunebed D12 is a visible archaeological Rijksmonument and was originally a small hunebed. Its size description and Rijksmonument classification refer to different aspects: its original dimensions and its protected-monument status. From Eext, access is via Venakkers road and then a sandy path. For directions, the sequence of these two sections of the route is also relevant.

Hunebed D14 near Eexterhalte is on a different scale: the monument is 18 metres long and is one of the largest hunebeds in the Netherlands. It is a stone burial monument of the Funnel Beaker culture, dating from 3400 to 3050 BC. Compared with the originally small D12, its stated size provides a clear contrast; D14 also has a specific cultural classification and date. D14 has a car park, making it easier to reach by car.

Architecture and Surroundings

Eext’s former railway station building dates from around 1925. Influences of the Amsterdam School are especially visible in the window frames. Since 1969, the building has been used as the main building of a campsite. Its construction date, architectural features and later use together offer a distinct perspective on Eext’s architectural history: a building from around 1925 was given a different function.

The woodland surroundings are also relevant when choosing activities: they’re suitable for cycling and walking. This lets you complement a cultural-historical exploration of Eext with activities in a wooded setting. These options offer different ways to spend your stay without limiting you to a single aspect of the village’s history.

Discover more destinations: Grolloo, Gasselternijveen, Anloo, Gasselte, Schoonloo, Rolde, Gieterveen, Vredenheim

For the overview of the wider area: Aa En Hunze.