Borger: Dolmens, hiking trails and cultural history

Borger can be explored through its dolmens, hiking trails and architectural history. Hunebed D27 is right next to Hunebedcentrum, where the Oertijdpad also begins. Other highlights include the Dutch Reformed Church, with its 14th-century tower, and the open-air theatre De Speulkoel near Hunebedcentrum. The themes therefore range from prehistoric monuments to ecclesiastical architecture and cultural history. Depending on your interests, you can plan your visit around a single monument, a trail or another cultural theme.

Hunebed D27 and Hunebedcentrum

D27 measures 22.5 metres and is the largest dolmen in the Netherlands. It is right next to Hunebedcentrum, where you can see ancient objects and play interactive games. This places the scale of an individual monument alongside the activities offered by the centre as distinct points of interest. Hunebedcentrum is located on the Hondsrug ridge in Drenthe, setting this focus of your visit within the landscape.

Dolmens and hiking trails

The numbers of dolmens also provide a sense of scale: 16 of Drenthe’s 52 dolmens are in Borger and its surroundings. The Bijvoetpad passes six dolmens dating back around 5,000 years: one is in Borger and five are in Bronneger. The Oertijdpad starts at Hunebedcentrum and is a 13.5-kilometre hiking trail with a digital guide. The figures 16 and six refer to different scales: 16 refers to Borger and its surroundings within Drenthe’s regional collection, while six refers to the sequence along the Bijvoetpad. The trails also offer different points of interest: for the Oertijdpad, the starting point, route length and digital guide are specific reference points; the Bijvoetpad focuses on the sequence of dolmens and their distribution between two places. This lets you assess the routes based on the features actually stated.

Church and cultural history

The Dutch Reformed Church in Borger is dedicated to Saint Willibrord. Its tower dates from the 14th century, stands 27 metres high and is built of monastery bricks; it rests on a foundation of large boulders. Its dedication, age, height and materials give the church a different historical emphasis from the prehistoric dolmens: here, the focus is on church history and the tower’s construction. De Speulkoel adds another dimension as an open-air theatre established in 1959 near Hunebedcentrum. Alongside the dolmens, there are therefore other named cultural themes to choose from, although they do not share the same historical context.

Practical information

Tourist Info Borger offers hiking maps, cycling routes and other visitor information. Hiking maps can help you find your way on foot; cycling routes are another point of reference when planning a trip by bike. Opening details can change, so check them before your visit. This lets you tailor your preparations to your interests, while Borger’s sights and trails each show the town from a different perspective.

Discover more destinations: Bronneger, Drouwenerveen, Ees, Eesergroen, Buinen, Valthermond, Exloo, Valthe

For the broader travel overview: Borger-Odoorn.