Discover Valthermond

Valthermond is a long, 19th-century canal village northeast of Valthe. Its local history links the canals with peat work, the major fire of 1917, and places of remembrance. This gives you a clear focus when choosing a destination: you can explore the village through its settlement history, a cycling route featuring local history, and the activities available at Waterrijk Valthermond. These topics offer pointers to help you decide whether local history and activities on the water match your travel interests.

Canal Village and Peat History

From 1853 onward, houses were built between Noorderhoofdvaart and Zuiderhoofdvaart for agricultural and peat workers. The houses stood between the two named canals and were intended for these occupational groups. Valthermond is a long canal village, making its settlement pattern, waterways, and working history central ways of looking at the place.

A side canal is also part of the historic waterways: it was dug diagonally through the Valtherveen from Musselkanaal. Together, these details show two different connections to the canals: houses were built between Noorderhoofdvaart and Zuiderhoofdvaart, while the side canal ran across the Valtherveen. If you are interested in how the village came about, both details offer a concrete way into its history.

Peat Fire and Cycling Route

In 1917, Valthermond was hit by a major peat fire. The fire destroyed more than ninety houses and claimed several lives. The Valthermond cycling route passes sights relating to peat extraction, inventors, spherical bottles, and the dark day of the 1917 peat fire. Its themes range from peat extraction and inventions to remembrance of a defining event in the village’s history. Check the current route details before setting off, as route information may change.

Places of Remembrance, Memorial, and Architectural History

The war memorial in Valthermond, in the municipality of Borger-Odoorn, is a memorial stone made of grey natural stone. It commemorates all fellow residents who lost their lives in acts of war during the years of occupation. Alongside the remembrance of the peat fire, it provides a separate connection to the history of the occupation years and to the people of the municipality.

At Zuiderdiep 279 is a building designated a Rijksmonument, meaning a nationally protected Dutch monument. Another architectural feature is the new Reformed church on Zuiderdiep: it was a simple brick building with pointed-arch windows. These two details add buildings and their differing historical classifications to the picture of Valthermond.

The bronze sculpture “De Toekomst Scheppen” stands beside a surviving section of Zuiderhoofddiep, near a lock dating from 1897. Here, a work of art, a surviving stretch of canal, and a dated lock come together in a specific setting. The sculpture adds a connection to art and canal history to the themes of peat extraction and remembrance.

Waterrijk Valthermond

Waterrijk Valthermond has a birdwatching hut. Waterrijk also offers opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), and pedal boating. These activities give you a range of ways to enjoy a stay focused on the water, while the birdwatching hut adds another point of interest. As seasonal arrangements may change, check the conditions for your planned travel dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Buinen, Exloo, Bronneger, Klijndijk, Odoornerveen, Valthe, Drouwen, Drouwenermond

For the broader travel overview: Borger-Odoorn.