Discover hiking, water and culture in Gasselte

If you are looking for a hotel in Gasselte, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on during your trip: hiking, cycling and riding routes, bodies of water or historic places. The destinations differ in distance and character. This can help you decide which themes you want to shape your stay.

Hiking among forests, heathland and history

The signposted WMD hiking route in Gasselte is 3 kilometres long. It passes through the Gasselte water extraction area on the Hondsrug and through forest, heathland and hay meadows. Along the way, square signs with blue-and-white lettering help with navigation. Another option is “Op pad rond Gasselte”: this 9-kilometre hiking route begins and ends at Achter de Brinken 6e in Gasselte.

The two routes differ in both their stated length and their described features: the WMD route is the shorter of the two and passes through several types of landscape; the shared start and end point is specified for “Op pad rond Gasselte”. The blue markers around Gasselterveld are a separate feature. They guide hikers to particularly beautiful viewpoints and spots.

The Hamerlanden trail also combines a hiking route with a historic landscape feature. It passes the Ravijn, a ravine excavated more than a century ago. It was intended to make it possible to build a railway line through the Hondsrug, with a station in Gasselte. The trail therefore offers a tangible connection to the area's former landscape and transport history.

Water destinations around Gasselterveld

Gasselterveld is a former sand extraction site. The body of water is about 50 metres deep in the middle. Because the water is cold and deep and the sandy banks are loose, only the shallower northeastern area is suitable for swimming. The beaches around Gasselterveld also offer opportunities for picnicking. If you are looking for a particularly shallow body of water, consider ’t Nije Hemelriek: the bathing pond is very shallow and especially suitable for children.

For a different perspective on Gasselterveld, there is an accessible 18-kilometre cycling route between Gasselterveld and Drouwenerzand. It runs through the forests around Gasselterveld and offers views of bright blue water and white beaches. Hikers can follow the blue markers to viewpoints; the cycling route, by contrast, describes a separate connection between Gasselterveld and Drouwenerzand.

Church, cemetery and historic details

The Witte Kerkje stands on the edge of the high esch and was probably founded in the second half of the 13th century. The church building's recorded details include a Mannerist pulpit dating from around 1630. Its panels are framed with carved ornamentation. The historic church and its surroundings therefore offer a different focus from the trails and bodies of water.

The historic cemetery around the church is older than the church building. It is believed that burials took place there before the year 800. In 2003, the cemetery was designated a Rijksmonument, a protected national heritage site.

Cycling, mountain biking and horse riding

The Gieten–Gasselte mountain bike route includes a flow trail section near Gasselte along the N34. The car park at ’t Nije Hemelriek, at Houtvester Jansenweg 1, 9462 TB Gasselte, is listed as a possible starting point. The different distances and landscapes described can help you choose between the walking and cycling routes: the WMD hike is 3 kilometres, “Op pad rond Gasselte” is 9 kilometres, and the Gasselterveld–Drouwenerzand cycling route is 18 kilometres.

Horse riding is another possible focus. Manege Gasselte offers qualified lessons in dressage, show jumping, riding and driving for recreational riders and competitors. It is located beside the state forests of Drenthe and has direct access to more than 120 kilometres of horse-riding trails. So, alongside the signposted hiking routes, there is also a dedicated network of riding trails and a range of options for cyclists.

Discover more destinations: Anloo, Nooitgedacht, Rolde, Nieuwediep, Balloo, Vredenheim, Gieterveen, Eexterzandvoort.

For the broader travel overview: Aa En Hunze.