Een – Discover village history and nature

Een brings together themes that can be given different weights when planning a trip: village history, historic sites, and landscape. If you are looking for hotels in Een, you can think in advance about whether you are particularly interested in the Zwartendijksterschans, the village greens, or the Marke van Een nature area. The local features range from a 16th-century fortification to the landscape’s former use as grazing land.

Zwartendijksterschans and history

The Zwartendijksterschans was built in the winter of 1593–1594 as an earthwork fortification between Bakkeveen in Friesland and the village of Een in Drenthe. It is one of the few surviving fortifications from the Eighty Years’ War. Its precise date and location between the two places give this historical reference a clear timeframe and geographical context.

The Friese Waterlinie I cycling route also leads to the Zwartendijksterschans. This means the fortification is identified not only by its history but also as a point along a cycling route. Route details can change; if you plan to ride it, check the current route before setting off.

Landscape and village greens in Een

South of Een, along the Haulerwijksterweg, lies the Marke van Een nature area, with woodland and heathland. The description specifies both the types of landscape and the exact location. If woodland and heathland are important to your trip, the Marke van Een is a specific point of reference for your plans.

Brink de Tip is located by the school in Een. It is triangular in shape and is a so-called meadow green; trees grow along the surrounding hedgerows on raised banks. The shape of the green and the vegetation on the hedgerows describe two distinct features of this part of the village.

Another village green is located on Noord Eind, in the oldest part of Een. In the past, sheep were gathered there before being driven out to graze on the extensive heathlands. This former use adds insight into how the landscape was used at the time: Brink de Tip is characterised by its triangular shape, while the green on Noord Eind is characterised by its historic function as a gathering place for sheep.

Memorial stone and the growth of the village

The war memorial in Een is a memorial stone made of grey natural stone. It is designed as a triptych and has a cross mounted on top. Its material and structure give the memorial a distinctive appearance among the area’s historic features. If you are interested in the design of memorials, both its three-part form and the cross are part of its description.

Een grew rapidly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a result of the cultivation of the Enerveld. This development took place much later than the construction of the Zwartendijksterschans in the winter of 1593–1594. The two periods represent different chapters in the village’s history: the construction of a fortification during the Eighty Years’ War and later growth linked to the cultivation of the Enerveld.

More topics for planning your trip

Northwest of Een lies Ronostrand, with a private bathing lake, a white sandy beach, and a grassy sunbathing area. The beach is not open to the public. If you plan to visit Ronostrand, check the current access conditions with the operator beforehand, as facilities and access conditions can change. This makes it clear that the bathing lake is private, not a public beach.

Another walking option is the “Even zitten in Veenhuizen” route, which runs through the Slokkert stream valley and the heritage village of Veenhuizen. Its named landscape and location references offer a different focus from the village greens and historic features in Een. If you include the route in your plans, check the latest route details before setting out.

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

For the broader travel overview: Noordenveld.