Cycling and hiking in Drenthe
We found another great biking and hiking province for you, Drenthe! Here you can also enjoy active biking and hiking! Drenthe is also a part of the Drents-Friese Wold and let that be one of my favorite Dutch vacation destinations!
Hiking in Drenthe
Drenthe has a varied nature and is definitely worth a visit. There are far too many hiking trails to name them all in Drente, but we have found the best and the most beautiful ones for you and put them down in this blog. Have fun hiking!
Hiking in the Drents-Friese Wold
So let’s kick off right here. There are no less than 30 different hiking trails in the Drents-Friese Wold to do and altogether about 130 km of hiking trails. Hiking opportunities galore! The area includes vast shifting sand plains where a nice, relatively short (5 km) walking route can be done. This Walking Route Bald Dunes really takes you to a completely different world! For children there is a fun Belevingspad of 3 km. Along this route there are 10 fun things to do for the kids so they won’t get bored easily. Feel like taking a long walk? You can do so with the 16 km long Olde Smildeger foresters path. On this hike you will cross forests, sandy plains and nice lakes. And if you are lucky you might even spot a pine marten!
Looking for more great biking and hiking trails in the Drents-Friese Wold? Then be sure to take a look at the Staatsbosbeheer website.
The Drenthepad: lots of hiking fun
Walking the Drenthepad in one go is impossible, because the total route is no less than 324 km, but still we did not want to let it pass you by. You can divide it into 20 different stages. This trail is marked with red and yellow directional markers. Looking for dolmens? Then walk stage 9. This 17.3 km long walking route runs from Glimmen to Zuidlaren and takes you past several dolmens. But that’s not all, as this route also takes you past all kinds of lakes, fens, estates, you name it! Highly recommended on a beautiful day when you are vacationing in Drenthe.
The Pieterpad: Holland’s most famous long-distance route
Anyone who enjoys hiking has heard of the Pieterpad. This route is 498 km long and consists of 26 stages. And just let the fourth stage go through Drenthe. The just under 18 km of this route go straight through the national landscape Drentsche Aa and that is truly a beautiful walking environment. The route starts in the village of Zuidlaren and ends at Rolder’s Patathoes. You can treat yourself to some French fries, because you will have earned them!
GPS walks in Drenthe
Are you not very good at reading maps and route signs? Then a GPS-walk is just the thing for you! There are a lot of them in Drenthe for cycling and hiking. Ideal for a day out. All you need is a charged mobile phone. Are you curious about the different GPS routes? Have a quick look here.
Cycling in Drenthe
Drenthe also lends itself perfectly to exploring by bike. There are a lot of great cycling routes to do, whether you like quiet routes through nature or tough mountain bike trails. There is something for everyone in this province.
Cycling in the Drents-Friese Wold
You can also enjoy cycling in the Drents-Friese Wold. For example, cycle this 46 km route and get a complete picture of what the Drents-Friese Wold has to offer. The Drents-Friese Wold route of 45 km takes you past all of Drenthe’s special historical sites, such as the dolmens! But even shorter routes are enough to let you enjoy the surroundings. The Oude-Willem route around Diemer is also highly recommended. This route is 31 km and therefore also doable for the less experienced cyclist. Are you looking for a challenge? Then do the Mountain Bike Route Appelscha-Bosberg. This one may seem short (only 4.4 km) but you really can’t do it without a good warm-up!
Cycling in the Asserbos
Cycling with the whole family is possible on the Asserbos cycling route. It is in fact only 7 km long and thus very suitable for short children’s legs. Tip from our guest blogger Marian: then also visit the Sustainability Center in Assen, because there is really lots to do for young and old. From here there are even more great routes for biking and hiking.
Combine cycling with history
There is also a beautiful bicycle route that takes you past Westerbork memorial camp. You might find it too impressive, but catching your breath and a piece of history is definitely a must. From this place Jewish families were put on trains to the various labor camps. The museum is largely outdoors but there is also an indoor section. Also interesting for slightly older children who have been talking about World War II during history classes. The bike route itself is over 28 km and takes you past woods and heathland, among other things. Are you curious about the route? Check it out here.
Cycling through National Park Dwingelderveld
Drenthe has no less than three National Parks! The Drents-Friese Wold, De Drentsche Aa and National Park Dwingelderveld. A bicycle route of about 35 km goes through these. When you cycle this route, you really imagine yourself far away from the uninhabited world. You can spot as many as 300 species of birds, see Dutch reptiles and perhaps stumble upon a flock of sheep, as they roam freely here. Truly a wonderful route!
Mountain biking in Drenthe
Drenthe is also known for its many mountain bike trails. One of them also goes right through the Dwingelderveld and has an appropriate starting point, namely Spier. You’ll probably feel that one very well the day after. This route is almost 23 km long and definitely worthwhile for anyone who likes a sporty bike ride. But there are many more beautiful and challenging mountain bike routes to be found in Drenthe and you can find them here.
Want more tips on cycling and hiking in the Netherlands? Then be sure to have a look here, because here all the blogs are listed.
