Discover Hijken

Visitors looking for a hotel for a trip to Hijken can get to know the area through its natural and village history. Hijkerveld lies near Hijken and is one of the largest heathland areas in Drenthe. For planning, it is useful to distinguish between walking and cycling routes by mode of transport and stated distance. The development of Diependal, as well as Hijken’s settlement and building history, also offers specific topics to help you plan around your interests. When choosing a destination, consider whether you are more interested in a specific tour, the history of the landscape or historical details of the village.

Heathland trails on foot and by bike

The “Rond het Hijkerveld” cycling route is 45 km long and can be ridden by bike. On foot, the Knapzakroute Hijken takes you across and around Hijkerveld; centuries-old cart tracks run along the route. Another walk, “Hijken: Hijkerveld,” is 7 km long. These details answer different planning questions: the Knapzakroute can be assessed by its course and trail features, while the distance of the other walk is specified. The 45 km applies to the cycling route and cannot be directly compared with the length of a walk. Check trail conditions before setting out.

Diependal: from liquid-manure irrigation fields to bird reserve

Diependal illustrates a change in land use: the former liquid-manure irrigation system of the Oranje potato starch factory was converted into the Diependal bird reserve. This creates a clear timeline from its earlier industrial use to its later role as a bird reserve. Access to the bird-watching hide at Diependal is via a 162 m-long tunnel and a spiral staircase. The stairs limit wheelchair access. When planning your visit, therefore, take both the tunnel length and the staircase beyond it into account.

Village history and details in the streetscape

Hijken is an Esdorp, a type of village founded in the early Middle Ages as a daughter settlement of Beilen. The term Esdorp refers to a settlement type; its founding as a daughter settlement also places the village in a particular period and establishes its connection to Beilen. The village has two large triangular village greens. A bell tower was built on the green for De Antenne in 2015; the facade of De Antenne bears the text from Psalm 124:8. The streetscape thus brings together the village’s early settlement history and a much later construction date, while the psalm text provides a specific detail on the facade.

Nature and traditional land use

The Hijkerveld–Diependal area is home to Schoonebeker sheep and Scottish Highland cattle. Zuid-Hijkerzand is a protected natural area. Vorrelveen has traditionally been used by farmers from Hijken as meadow and pastureland. This use for meadow and pasture involves two agricultural activities: making hay and using land for grazing. The area’s natural attractions therefore range from wildlife and protected status to historical land use.

Discover more destinations: Balinge, Smilde, Elp, Orvelte, Spier, Hooghalen, Drijber, Wijster

For the main travel overview: Midden-Drenthe.