Noordenveld: Windmills, Moorland and Cultural Heritage

Woldzigt in Roderwolde is a combined grain and oil mill, founded in 1852. Together with archaeological monuments, historic sites and landscapes of moorland and woodland, it reveals the many facets of Noordenveld. During your stay, you can focus on cultural history, nature watching or outdoor activities.

Landscape and trails

Noordenveld’s landscapes range from the stream-valley landscape, with ancient hollows, hedgerows and wooded strips in the northern Onlanden, to old forests in the south. They also include historic esdorpen landscapes and the living raised bog at Fochteloërveen. Peat bogs, heathland, forests and drifting sands add to this varied picture. Walking trails wind through forests, heathland, wet nature areas and fields bordered by hedgerows; the landscapes are also ideal for longer cycling tours.

You can explore Noordenveld on foot, by bicycle, on horseback or by canoe. The Noordsche Veld walking route through the Kop van Drenthe leads through woodland, along hedgerows and across heathland. Several walking routes start at the Brink in Norg; some are marked by colour on a sign. This gives you a choice of starting points for days spent exploring on foot.

You can walk, cycle and canoe in the Onlanden, though not everywhere. Water access and route availability may vary depending on the area and season. Guided excursions are also regularly offered. In this nature area, you may spot species including great white egrets, marsh harriers, white-tailed eagles, bitterns and otters; wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.

At the edge of the forests of Een, Ronostrand offers a lakeside swimming spot and a beach for relaxation. Check which seasonal facilities are available before your visit. This lets you combine walks and cycling tours with time by the water, although not every activity is possible at every location.

Archaeology and cultural history

Noordsche Veld is an archaeological monument, designated as such in 2017. Well-preserved traces of the past include burial mounds and hunebeds (megalithic tombs). Hunebed D1 (Drenthe 1) in Steenbergen is also a notable site: it is the northernmost hunebed in Drenthe. It is easy to reach by car; a spacious car park and a walking trail beside the hunebed make it easier to find your way around.

Veenhuizen is part of the Dutch UNESCO World Heritage site Colonies of Benevolence. The National Prison Museum tells stories of poverty, neglect, crime and punishment. Another trace of history leads to Zwartendijksterschans: built in 1593 to block the road between Groningen and Friesland to the Spanish, it is open to visitors free of charge.

Woldzigt is fully operational and has millstones and two pairs of stone grinding stones, one of which is driven from below. There is also a fore-run and a second run. The combination of a grain mill and an oil mill makes the site interesting for visitors with an interest in historic technology. It is best to check before your visit whether a demonstration is taking place and what access arrangements apply.

Getting there and planning your visit

Veenhuizen is accessible by car, and free parking is available at several locations. Bus route 14 runs from Assen and Drachten to Veenhuizen. As transport information can change, check your connection before travelling. It may also help to group your outings by theme when planning your trip: archaeological sites, historic cultural sites and routes through the landscape offer different ways to spend your time in Noordenveld.

Discover more destinations: Peest, Peize, Roderwolde, Een-West, Westervelde, Alteveer, Norg, Roderesch, Zuidvelde, Roden, Veenhuizen, Een.

For the overview of the wider region: Drenthe.