Nieuwediep: Canal, Railway and Village History

Nieuwediep is a five-kilometre-long peatland settlement that lies parallel to the provincial boundary between Drenthe and Groningen. For your stay, the local history of the Nieuwe Diep canal, the railway and specific activities offer different points of interest. This allows you to understand Nieuwediep through its settlement and border history while also taking a named route, the bowling facilities at Huize Bareveld and a public playground into account when choosing where to stay.

From Canal to Peatland Settlement

The Nieuwe Diep canal was built around 1800 to reclaim the peatlands of Anner- and Eextervenen. Nieuwediep developed along this canal from the 19th century onwards. This sequence makes the connection clear: the canal was used to reclaim the peatlands; the settlement arose later along the canal. The waterway and the peatland settlement are therefore part of two related but chronologically distinct stages in the area’s history.

Industry and Railway

The brickworks and lime kiln De Twee Provinciën are also part of the area’s history. They were established in Nieuwediep in 1900 and operated until 1972. With both types of operation and a clearly defined time span, they provide a specific reference point for the industrial history, alongside the older canal and peat history.

The Semslinie is the historic boundary between the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe. The railway line runs through Nieuwediep. Around 1900, it was built immediately behind the houses of Nieuwediep. A local report published in 2024 noted that the Stichting Stadskanaal Rail used the line for steam trains. The founding of the brickworks and lime kiln in 1900 and the construction of the railway around 1900 fall within the same approximate period; they can be viewed as separate developments alongside the older canal history.

Routes and Activities

The 15.5-kilometre Rondje Daaip & Dörp route starts and ends at Huize Bareveld in Nieuwediep. Huize Bareveld also offers the chance to go bowling on several lanes. It is therefore a shared reference point for two different planning details: the route’s start and finish, and the bowling facilities.

There are hiking trails and currently available hiking junctions in the Nieuwediep area. If hiking is one of your travel interests, these nearby trails and junctions offer a distinct starting point for planning. Check whether the junctions are still available before setting out.

The Groot Gat nature area is also nearby. It was created by sand extraction for the railway. Its origins link this nearby natural area to a specific part of the railway’s history.

There is a public playground in Nieuwediep at the Dorpshuis. If a public playground matters to your travel plans, its location in the village is clearly identified: the Dorpshuis.

Discover more destinations: Gasselte, Gieterveen, Anderen, Eexterzandvoort, Anloo, Schoonloo, Nooitgedacht, Grolloo.

For the wider travel overview: Aa En Hunze.