Een-West: Fortress History and Landscape

Een-West lies near the point where the provinces of Drenthe, Groningen and Friesland meet. The village developed as a dispersed settlement; its settlement history, the Zwartedijksterschans and the landscape of the Schansduinen are distinct themes found in the surrounding area. This gives you several specific points of interest to consider when planning your trip: the historic defensive fortification, a cycling route, and the heathland with recorded butterflies. You can decide which aspects interest you most—history, cycling or the landscape—based on these features of the area.

Een-West as a dispersed settlement

Een-West was established about 100 years ago during the reclamation of the Eenerveld. The first settlers were mainly farmers and peat workers from Friesland and Groningen. This development gave rise to a dispersed settlement, with buildings scattered throughout the area, particularly along Hoofdweg, Schansweg and Vennootsweg. The three street names provide specific points of reference for describing the village; its settlement history also reflects the agriculture and peat extraction associated with early settlement.

The Zwartedijksterschans and its history

The Zwartedijksterschans is located near Een-West, on Schansweg between Een and Een-West. The site is open to the public free of charge. This square defensive fortification dates from the 16th century and was built on the orders of the Frisian stadtholder Willem Lodewijk. In the winter of 1593–1594, it was constructed as an earthen fort between Bakkeveen in Friesland and the village of Een in Drenthe. Its purpose was to protect Friesland from incursions by Spanish troops under Stadtholder Verdugo.

The history of the area’s roads reaches further back: as early as the Middle Ages, a road ran over the Zwartendijk from Norg via Een and Bakkeveen to Friesland. This allows two distinct periods to be identified: the medieval road and the fortification built later, in the 16th century. Both are historical points of reference for the area, though the earlier road route should not be confused with the fortification itself.

Cycle to the fort

The Friese Waterlinie I cycling route passes the Zwartedijksterschans, among other places. On its way to Drenthe, it crosses the N979 and leads to the fort near the village of Een-West. The site is therefore also a specific destination along a designated cycling route. The historic road connection over the Zwartendijk and the Friese Waterlinie I cycling route represent different route connections. Check the cycling route’s current alignment before setting off, as routes may change.

The Schansduinen: heathland and butterflies

East of Hoofdweg lies a plot of woodland and wasteland, a remnant of the once extensive Schansduinen. The Schansduinen consist of a western and an eastern section. The western section contains dry heathland, dominated mainly by heather; bell heather also grows in damper areas. These varying heathland conditions are part of the landscape, alongside the two sections of the Schansduinen.

Butterflies are another specific natural feature of this area: a survey in 2025 recorded a total of 847 butterflies from 26 species in the Schansduinen. These figures relate to that survey season. Together with the heathland vegetation, they describe a landscape whose distinctive features can be seen both in its plant life and in the butterflies recorded there.

Een-West offers several clearly distinct points of interest for choosing between history, cycling and the landscape. You can explore the Zwartedijksterschans as a historic structure, learn about the Friese Waterlinie I as a cycling route, or discover the Schansduinen and the observations made in 2025. These themes give your trip to Een-West a specific connection to the area.

Discover more destinations: Alteveer, Roderesch, Westervelde, Roderwolde, Een, Veenhuizen, Norg, Peest.

View the regional travel guide: Noordenveld.