Surrounding area HUB Resorts Drentse Weelde

On the border with Friesland you will find National Park Drents-Friese Wold. This nature reserve is much more than just forest: you will encounter sand drifts, heaths, fens and marshes. It is the second largest contiguous forest area in the Netherlands after the Veluwe and there is plenty to do. Take to the water in a canoe, grab a mountain bike or hike the experience trail at Hoogersmilde.

National Park Dwingelderveld is home to the largest contiguous wet heathland area in the Netherlands. It is an impressive place where you can really feel the peace and quiet. During your walk you might just run into a shepherd with his sheep, because two flocks graze in the area: the Ruiner Schaapskudde and the Dwingelder Schaapskudde. Both have their own shepherd and sheep pen. Definitely worth stopping by, because the shepherds love to tell you about their special work.

With over 1,100 kilometers of bike trails, Drenthe is ideal for exploring by bike. You ride leisurely through the Drenthe countryside, along quiet paths and past villages and nature. There are also plenty of routes for mountain biking, hiking, Nordic walking and horseback riding, and you'll regularly pass megalithic tombs along the way.

The National Park Drentsche Aa is a special piece of Drenthe where nature and culture meet. You will find characteristic esdorpen, farmland and beautiful nature in one landscape.

Throughout the area meanders a brook of 28 kilometers, which takes you past 21 villages and hamlets. Along the way you pass, among other things, the Balloërveld, a vast heathland of 367 hectares, peat lakes and sand drifts. The 'giants' of Drenthe are not missing here either: the dolmens give the area a mystical atmosphere.

Camp Westerbork tells the story of deportation and loss during World War II. At the Memorial Center, this history comes close through film images, exhibitions and personal stories.

In the museum, the names of more than one hundred thousand victims are projected and read aloud daily from a restored wagon near 'the Rampe', the place where the trains left for the East. On the grounds you can also see original barracks and the house of the camp commander. A visit is impressive, but well worth it.

The Drents Museum in Assen is one of the best-known museums in the northern Netherlands, attracting visitors with a strong mix of archaeology, art and special exhibitions. Among other things, the collection shows how people used to live in Drenthe, with striking archaeological finds and stories from prehistory and early history.

In addition to the permanent presentation, the museum regularly organizes temporary exhibitions that highlight a different theme or era each time. This makes the Drents Museum an interesting destination for anyone who likes to soak up culture and be surprised by changing exhibitions.

Attractiepark Drouwenerzand is an all-inclusive amusement park: after paying the entrance fee you can spend the whole day in the attractions as well as enjoying the food and drinks on offer. With more than 25 attractions, it is a wonderful day out especially for children (from about 3 years of age). The park was named " Funniest outing in Drenthe" several times and is rated 8.2 on Zoover.

The Hunebedcentrum in Borger is the place to discover all about hunebeds, the oldest monuments in the Netherlands. They were built by the Funnel Beaker people with huge boulders that were brought from Scandinavia to Drenthe during the Ice Age. In Drenthe, the hunebedden are numbered; you can find them as D1 to D54 within a radius of about 30 kilometers.

Right next to the Hunebedcentrum is immediately the largest of them all: hunebed D27. With a length of no less than 22.6 meters, this impressive structure is really worth a visit.

WILDLANDS Adventure Zoo in Emmen feels like a trip around the world in one day. You walk through the jungle of Jungola, go on safari in Serenga and dive into the polar Nortica.

Fancy some extra action? Join the boat ride, take a ride on the Tweestryd roller coaster or experience the 4D test ride Arctic 1. Along the way, you can also join shows and presentations.

Hoogersmilde is a quiet Drents village in the municipality of Midden-Drenthe, built on both sides of the Smildervaart canal. In the village the Beilervaart joins the Smildervaart, which makes the typical landscape with water and bridges extra recognizable.

Just south of the village are fine places to take a break in nature, such as the Leggelderveld and the Blauwe Meer. Also notable is the tall transmitter mast on the Beilervaart, which partially collapsed due to fire in 2011.

Assen, the capital of Drenthe, combines culture, history and relaxation. For fans of motor sports, the TT Circuit Assen is highly recommended, with major international racing events such as the MotoGP.

In addition, Assen has a lively and cozy city center with stores, terraces and restaurants. Those who want to get out into nature can visit the nearby Asserbos: a historic city forest that is ideal for a walk. Assen is thus a versatile destination for a day out in Drenthe.