Zwartemeer: Moorland, Cycling Routes and History

Moorland and nature trails are a clear focus for a trip to Zwartemeer, which also has historical and architectural connections. In Veenland, you can experience living raised bog. The Bargerveen nature reserve is located in the heart of ’t Veenland. Buffer Noord covers 65 hectares and lies between the village of Zwartemeer and Bargerveen. This lets you discover the nature reserve, its buffer zone and its connection to the village as different aspects of your trip.

Moorland and Trails in Buffer Noord

Along the water in Buffer Noord, you’ll find fishing spots, information boards, bridleways, cycling paths and a barefoot trail. These facilities offer different activities: fishing, cycling, horse riding or walking along the barefoot trail. A cycling path also runs along the eastern dike in Buffer Noord.

A walk starts at the bus stop on Eemslandweg in Zwartemeer. A route report published in 2022 describes how the path leads directly from there over unpaved ground through the buffer zone created for Bargerveen. Check the trail conditions before setting out. When planning, you can also take the different surface types into account: the walk described follows an unpaved path, while the “Ontdek het Bargerveen” cycling route uses wide, paved paths.

Cycling, Driving and Horse Riding

The accessible “Ontdek het Bargerveen” cycling route is 21 kilometres long and follows wide, paved paths. The “Men- en ruiterroute Bargerveen” offers a different type of route for horse-drawn vehicles and riders: it runs for about nine kilometres through Bargerveen. Horse trailers can be parked for this route at Laardijk, 7894 AS Zwartemeer. This lets you choose routes by activity and distance without conflating the cycling route with the driving or horse-riding route.

Birdwatching in Different Seasons

The Bargerveen bird-watching hide is located on the northern side of Bargerveen. It has a bench and viewing openings at two different heights, with views of two bodies of water. The time of year also makes a difference to birdwatching: in the area around the hide, red-backed shrikes can be seen in spring and summer, while great grey shrikes are seen mainly in winter. If you have particular species in mind, this seasonal change offers a practical guide for planning your trip.

Church, Local History and Carnival

The Sint Antonius van Paduakerk adds an architectural highlight alongside the nature attractions. The Neo-Gothic church was built in 1921 by Johannes Sluijmer of Enschede. The original colony, located between today’s village of Zwartemeer and the Bargerveen nature reserve, connects the area to its history. It should be understood as a historical settlement site, not as a separate attraction.

Carnival is also part of the region’s history: Zwartemeer was known for it in the wider area, and a large parade was held there every year from the 1970s onwards. If you’d like to plan your trip around this, check the latest event dates. Nature, architecture and history thus offer different reasons to consider Zwartemeer as a destination.

Discover more destinations: Weiteveen, Schoonebeek, Emmen, Roswinkel, Erica, Emmer-Compascuum, Nieuw-Amsterdam

Go to the main travel overview: Emmen.