Discover Rolde: Hiking, History and Culture

In Rolde, several clearly distinct themes can help you plan a stay: the signposted “Rolder Es” hiking route, the visitor centre of Drentsche Aa National Park, Jacobuskerk, megalithic tombs and the Streekmuseum. The Roldermarkt is another recurring event. If you are looking for a hotel, you can use these highlights to decide what you want to focus on during your trip.

Hiking and Understanding the Landscape

The signposted “Rolder Es” hiking route is 9.5 kilometres long and crosses the Drenthe landscape between Rolde and Balloo. Its length gives you a concrete sense of how much the walk involves. Another way to explore the landscape is to visit Huis van de Drentsche Aa, on the edge of Rolde near Deurze. It is home to the visitor centre of Drentsche Aa National Park.

The permanent exhibition at Huis van de Drentsche Aa explains how the stream-valley landscape formed, how people have influenced it, and which plants and animals live there. The exhibition therefore focuses on landscape formation, human impact and nature together. Walking and cycling routes are also available at Huis van de Drentsche Aa, and activities are organised there regularly. If you want to include a specific activity in your plans, check the latest dates in advance.

Church History and Megalithic Tombs

The present-day Jacobuskerk dates from the first quarter of the 15th century and has tall Gothic windows. A first small wooden church is said to have been built on the site of today’s church as early as the 9th or 10th century. It is important to distinguish between the dates: the early church may have been a predecessor, while the date from the first quarter of the 15th century refers to the present-day church. For centuries, its pointed tower served as a landmark for travellers.

The megalithic tombs D17 and D18 can also be distinguished by specific features. D18 is clearly visible from a distance when approaching by car. D17 is a little farther away, next to an old tree. D18 consists of seven capstones and fourteen side stones; D17 still has eight capstones and fifteen side stones. For each of these two types of stone, D17 therefore has one more than D18. These figures offer a clear point of comparison if you are interested in how the megalithic tombs are constructed.

Museum, Mill and Local Life

The Streekmuseum Het Dorp van Bartje features a reconstructed, fully furnished old Drenthe farmhouse, a school dating from 1930, a turf hut and changing exhibitions on the history of Rolde. The farmhouse, school and hut offer different perspectives from the changing exhibitions on local history: the museum brings several distinct themes together under one roof. Molen Van Rolde is the smallest mill in Drenthe. The Jewish cemetery in Rolde is another named cultural site; it is also known as “Bet Chajiem” (“House of the Living”).

Since 1785, the Roldermarkt has been held on the second Tuesday in September at the Grote Brink. If you want to plan your stay around the market, check the date for the relevant travel year in advance. This lets you treat the recurring event as a separate reason for your trip, distinct from the hiking, architecture and museum themes.

Discover More Destinations

Balloo, Papenvoort, Eext, Gieterveen, Eexterzandvoort, Anderen, Grolloo, Gasselternijveen

For the broader travel overview: Aa En Hunze.