Wijster: Cycling, Nature and History

When choosing a hotel in Wijster, the main focus of your stay can be a useful starting point: mountain biking on the VAM-berg, walking and nature along the Oude Diep and at Landgoed Vossenberg, as well as archaeological history. If you mainly want to cycle, the different route options can help you decide; for walking, there are also two routes of five kilometres each. Nature and cultural heritage offer their own highlights, too. This gives you a way to weigh up the themes of your stay before looking for a hotel.

Cycling on the VAM-berg and along the Oude Diep

There are 10 kilometres of mountain bike routes on the VAM-berg. The mountain bike course there includes, among other features, a 300-metre-long wooden bridge and a 60-metre-long floating bridge over water. A cycling route of more than 40 kilometres also runs along the Oude Diep. The two cycling options differ in length: 10 kilometres of mountain bike routes on the VAM-berg compared with a single cycling route of more than 40 kilometres along the Oude Diep.

Walking: two routes, five kilometres each

Both walking routes are 5 kilometres long. The title “VAM-berg and the Oude Diep” refers to two landscape features; “Wijster: Landgoed Vossenberg” leads through woodland and heathland and offers a view of the Reigerveen. With the routes being the same length, you can choose based on their named focus and the landscapes described.

Landscape and wildlife

East of the VAM-berg, the restored Oude Diep winds once again through the varied landscape at De Maten, with nutrient-poor meadows, wooded banks and rows of trees. In spring, orchids can turn some areas of the region pink, including the rare Harkelijn orchid. The Pesserma area along the Oude Diep provides a habitat for bluethroats, stonechats and grasshopper warblers; traces of otters have also been found in the Oude Diep area.

Around 80 bird species live at Landgoed Vossenberg, including the rare red-backed shrike; the species observed may change over time. Scottish Highland cattle graze there too, although their presence may vary by season. The rare floating bladderwort grows in the Reigerveen, turning the area white in summer.

De Blinkerd and its themes

The De Blinkerd information centre stands on the VAM-berg at Vamweg 5, 9418 TM Wijster. It provides information about the restoration of the Oude Diep, Attero’s waste processing, and water management in a stream valley system. These themes highlight different aspects of the landscape, water and waste processing.

Archaeology and remembrance

The excavation of a large settlement with a burial ground dating from Roman times and the early Middle Ages near Wijster is internationally renowned. The archaeological farmstead type “Wijster”, dating from the Roman Imperial period, was named after excavations in Wijster. The name of Landgoed Vossenberg also reflects the history of the area: it comes from one of the burial mounds there. On 14 December 2015, a memorial panel about the Wijster train hijacking was installed at the level crossing on Oosterseveldweg.

Discover more destinations: Balinge, Hooghalen, Drijber, Westerbork, Beilen, Hoogersmilde, Hijken, Spier

For the broader travel overview: Midden-Drenthe.