Odoornerveen: Canal Village, Open Fields and Routes

Odoornerveen combines the history of a canal village with an open, agriculture-oriented setting. Several specific points of interest sit side by side when planning your trip: development along the canals, the open field structure, and routes on foot and by bike. The walking and e-bike routes offer different options for planning your outings.

From Peatland to Canal Village

When peat workers reached the peatland around 1855, Odoornerveen developed into a canal village of the same name. A system of side canals running at right angles to the Oranjekanaal, together with elongated plots, shaped the peat landscape. By around 1890, peat extraction was largely complete. The land was then used for agriculture, and Odoornerveen developed into a farming village with the arable agriculture typical of peat colonies. The settlement also spread along the waterways: it grew up on both sides of the Oranjekanaal and later extended along the Borgerzijtak and the Maatschappijwijk. The course of the canals, the plots, and the settlement axes thus provide a common thread through the village’s history.

Open Field Views and a Varied Village Strip

In the municipal landscape, Odoornerveen and its surroundings are part of “Het grootse Veen,” a vast, open agricultural area. Its visible plot pattern was created through the systematic reclamation of the peatland, and the area also has natural features. In the village strip, buildings stand far apart, creating wide views across the open fields. Differences in building age, function, and style give the built environment a varied appearance. The open fields in the wider surroundings and the changing character along the village strip sit side by side.

Walking and Cycling

The Knapzakroute Odoornerveen K32 is a 17.5-kilometre walking route that starts at Dorpshuis De Miet. The 65-kilometre Randje-Drenthe-Route 6 Klazienaveen is designated as an e-bike route. The two routes therefore differ both in length and in how you travel: the K32 is the shorter walking option, while the Randje-Drenthe-Route is the longer e-bike ride.

You can reach the K32 by taking the Assen–Emmen bus to the Centrum stop in Schoonoord; from there, follow the Oranjekanaal to route point 3. Check the bus connection before departure and take local path conditions into account. The Flintenroute is a recreational cycling route that follows the junction network and passes through Odoornerveen and the UNESCO Geopark De Hondsrug. Along the way, you will pass a burial mound and numerous erratic boulders. This route offers a distinct focus for choosing your ride: a route through the geopark and past these traces of the landscape and its history.

Winter Tradition and Model Aviation

A report dated December 8, 2025, describes Priksleeën in Odoornerveen as a popular winter pastime for more than a hundred years. Whether participation is possible and what facilities are available depends on the weather.

Model aviation is another local activity. The Odoorner Luchtvaart Club is a model aviation club founded in 1971. The club’s field on Achterweg in Odoornerveen is used for various forms of model aviation. If you are interested, check the local rules for use in advance.

Discover more destinations: Drouwen, Borger, Drouwenermond, Eesergroen, Valthermond, Exloo, Buinen, Ees

For the main travel overview: Borger-Odoorn.