Drouwenermond: Canal Village, Farms and Culture

Drouwenermond is a long, linear canal village between Gasselternijveenschemond and Nieuw-Buinen. Its history along the Zuiderdiep, peat-colony farms and a small Protestant church shape the village. Zeelandstreekje and the ZeeuwMeeuw sculpture also recall families from Westkapelle who settled here. This offers different focal points for planning your trip: local and architectural history, or a stay timed to an event. If you are looking for a hotel in Drouwenermond, you can first consider what brings you here.

History along the Zuiderdiep

The first residents settled along the Zuiderdiep around 1823. Later, part of the canal was filled in, while another part was reopened. The waterway thus connects the village’s early settlement with later changes to the landscape. Drouwenermond is also a long, linear canal village between Gasselternijveenschemond and Nieuw-Buinen. Settlement and the canal landscape are two distinct points of reference in its history: the first points to the village’s beginnings, the second to the Zuiderdiep’s altered course.

The Knoesterbos is also part of the landscape: this wooded area lies beside a meadow in Drouwenermond, at Zeelandstreekje, and was established in 1985/1986.

Farms and church

Drouwenermond is still home to remarkable peat-colony farms. The Krimpen farms have clipped gable ends, with small windows in the attic. The farm complex at Zuiderdiep 38 dates from around 1880. There, the barn door and front façade are still aligned. These examples show different architectural features: the Krimpen farms stand out for their gable shape and windows, while Zuiderdiep 38 is notable for the alignment of its barn door and front façade.

The small Protestant church is also part of the local architectural history. Its roof resembles those of the farms. It also has a white-painted roof turret and a partly white-rendered façade. The roof shape connects it to the farms; the other features mentioned distinguish the buildings from one another.

Zeelandstreekje and ZeeuwMeeuw

Zeelandstreekje and the ZeeuwMeeuw sculpture recall four families from Westkapelle in Zeeland who settled there in 1884. ZeeuwMeeuw was created by Jef Depassé Huisman and dates from 1987. The dates refer to different events: 1884 marks the families’ settlement, while 1987 marks the creation of the sculpture. In this way, local history, heritage and the artwork come together without confusing the dates.

Events in Drouwenermond

The Boerenrock Festival takes place at the Festivalterrein Boerenrock in Drouwenermond. One of its named events is Trekkertrek, where tractors compete in pulling contests in different classes. If you are travelling for the festival, check the dates and program details for the relevant edition; the competition formats may change. The Brigade of de Gulle Bourgondiër provides catering at the festival. The menu and service conditions vary by season.

Another event is Gruwelijk Fikkie Stoken, a two-day tent festival held over the Easter weekend. It takes place at the Boerenrock grounds on the Verbindingsweg between Drouwenermond and Drouwenerveen. Watching the Easter bonfire is free. As entry conditions may change for future editions, check the event details before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Exloo, Odoorn, Ees, Drouwen, Odoornerveen, Valthe, Drouwenerveen, Bronneger

For the broader travel overview: Borger-Odoorn.