Loon: Village History, Architecture and Landscape

Loon brings together a distinctive village centre, agricultural building heritage and the surrounding landscapes. If you are considering the village as a destination for a hotel stay, you can plan your trip around a range of interests: the village’s appearance, traces of history, or time spent walking and cycling.

Village Centre and Building Heritage

The large triangular village green lies at the intersection of today’s Asserweg and Balloërweg. Narrow streets paved with brick pavers and many attractive farmhouses shape the village’s appearance. The green is a prominent landmark in the village; the streets and farmyards reflect its agricultural character.

The buildings span several periods. Along Asserweg are hall-house farmhouses dating from the 19th century. The Lente Festina thatched farmhouse on Balloërweg was built in the early 20th century. The farmhouse at Markeweg 2 is thought to date back to the 18th century. The village green is also home to a transformer house dating from around 1925, with stylistic links to the Amsterdam School. Overall, the period covered ranges from the presumed 18th century to buildings from the early 20th century. A hall-house combines living and working areas under one roof; the farmhouses on Asserweg show this 19th-century building type in the village.

The large number of farmers in and around Loon made it possible to establish the De Volharding cooperative dairy in 1896. The agricultural history thus extends beyond individual farmsteads to include a community dairy cooperative.

Landscape, Archaeology and Routes

Megalithic tomb D15 stands on the elevated Looneresch north of Loon; the site is dated to the Neolithic. The Looner Diep lies next to Loon and is part of the Drentsche Aa river system. East of the village is the Balloerveld, with extensive heathland and old cart tracks that point to a history spanning centuries. Kampsheide is a nature reserve of approximately 90 hectares between Assen and Balloo. These places have different geographical connections: D15 lies to the north, the Balloerveld to the east and the Looner Diep directly next to Loon; Kampsheide is located between Assen and Balloo.

The two outdoor routes differ considerably. The Kampsheide walking route is 6 kilometres long. A signposted 23-kilometre circular cycling route through the Drentsche Aa area passes through Loon. It can be started at any point and is suitable for e-bikes and touring bikes. The choice therefore depends on the mode of travel and route length; the cycling loop also offers a flexible starting point. Seasonal conditions can affect walking comfort on the walking route. Surface and access conditions on the cycling route may change, so it is worth checking the latest route conditions before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Assen, Zeijerveen.

Return to the main travel overview: Assen.