Valthe: Hunebeds, Forest and History

Valthe can be explored through three specific themes: its hunebeds, the history of Valtherbos forest, and routes to historic sites. If you’re looking for a hotel in Valthe, these interests can help you narrow down your choice of destination: would you like to see individual megalithic tombs, learn about traces of the Second World War, or explore on foot or by bicycle? Each of the routes and places has its own distinctive focus.

Hunebeds with distinct features

The stones at Hunebed D34 sit notably low to the ground. The megalithic tomb is incomplete because stone robbers removed some of the stones. From Odoorn, take the Valtherweg towards Valthe to reach D34, then turn right onto Hunebedweg. Opposite D34 is Eppiesbarchien, considered the largest burial mound in Drenthe.

Hunebed D35 lies at the northern edge of Valtherbos. From Klijndijk, reach it via Melkweg and a sandy track that branches off to the right. D36 and D37 are also known collectively as “De Valther Tweeling” (“The Valthe Twins”). They lie just a few metres apart in a spacious area with large trees, on the edge of the Kampervenen valley.

Forest history and remembrance

Valtherbos was once heathland and was planted with trees in the 1930s as part of a job-creation scheme. During the Second World War, an Onderduikershol—a hiding place for people in hiding—was dug between Valthe and Emmen, where Jewish people in hiding lived. A total of sixteen Jewish people hid at the Onderduikershol Valtherbos, in changing groups.

Walking and cycling routes

The walk “Kids in het spoor van de mammoet” (“Kids in the Footsteps of the Mammoth”) passes through the ancient Valtherbos to the Onderduikershol Valtherbos, a place with a moving wartime history; along the way, it passes Hunebeds D35, D36 and D37. The “Hunebedden Valtherbos” walking route has a different focus: it passes megalithic tombs and other traces of the past in Valtherbos.

By bicycle, you can choose between two routes that feature different local highlights. The Randje-Drenthe Route 7 Valthe starts and ends at the sports hall in Valthe and passes through Valthe, a village centred around a village green. The Flinten cycling route passes through Valthe, with its village green and old Saxon farmhouses. Details of the Randje-Drenthe Route may change; check the current route before setting off.

The walking routes differ in their focus: one leads to the Onderduikershol and passes three hunebeds, while the other draws attention to megalithic tombs and other traces of the past. Among the cycling routes, Route 7 has the sports hall as its start and end point; the Flinten route features the village green and old Saxon farmhouses. This lets you choose based on the themes you’d like to explore during your stay.

Traces of history through time

Valthe became known in 1818 when the Valtherbrug, dating from Roman times, was discovered. The Valtherbrug is also associated with a wooden trackway through the peat bog between Ter-Apel and Valthe, which was probably built around 5,000 years ago. These different historical periods add further dimensions to the history of Valthe, alongside the traces in Valtherbos and at the hunebeds.

Discover more destinations: Buinen, Drouwenermond, Drouwen, Odoorn, Ees, Eesergroen, Bronneger, Klijndijk

For the regional travel overview: Borger-Odoorn.