With the route Drenthe Periphery “Medium,” you see a large part of Drenthe. The route is 170 km long. You cycle through Drentsche Aa National Park and around Dwingelderveld National Park.

Drentsche Aa
This stream runs through the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe, and is considered to be the only stream in the Netherlands that has maintained its original curves and loops. Nationaal Beek- and Esdorpenlandschap (“National Stream and Esdorpen Landscape”) Drentsche Aa is a beautiful national park featuring bodies of water, hedgerows, heathlands, sandy soil and brinkdorpen (vill…

With the route Drenthe Periphery “Medium,” you see a large part of Drenthe. The route is 170 km long. You cycle through Drentsche Aa National Park and around Dwingelderveld National Park.

Brinkdorpen
Do you like brinkdorpen, or would you like to see one? Then this route is perfect for you, since it goes through no fewer than 14 brinkdorpen! A few of these are: Rolde, Tynaarlo, Anderen, Gieten, Erm, Ruinen and Dwingeloo. Brinkdorpen were built in medieval times—often atop a sandy ridge to remain dry. Each village had one or more squares; its brink. This was the centre of the village, around which houses and farms were built.

A lot of things went on on the brink. You would often find a dobbe, a deep hole filled with water, there. This water was used as drinking water for livestock, but also to wash clothes or extinguish fires. In the morning, livestock was gathered on the brink to graze outside of the village; they would return in the evening, after which the farmers would pick up their own animals. The brinkdorpen often have many remnants from the past: old farms, dirt tracks, the brink, the es (high-lying farmland) and sometimes a dobbe.

Starting points with parking options
There are multiple starting points for the route where you can park your car. This allows you to start the route from wherever you like.

Assen: Car park Stadsbroek
Zuidlaren: De Brink
Gieten: Stationsstraat
Borger: Molenstraat
Sleen: Bannerschultestraat
Hoogeveen: Parking place Middelveldweg
Ruinen: Oosterstraat
Dwingeloo: Brinkweg

Part of Drenthe Periphery 255 km
This route is part of the route Drenthe Periphery 255 km, that runs along the border of the province of Drenthe. Within this long route, you can also pick and choose from among ten shorter routes—varying from 55 to 67 kilometres—or two routes of 135 and 170 kilometres.

Sights on this route

Starting point: Kortbossen 5
9405 BM Assen

Dolmen D15

The dolmen of Loon is a large, almost complete dolmen on the high Looner Es. The dolmen has a wreath of stones around it and a 'gate' along which you can enter.

Dolmen D6

Along the road Zeegse-Tynaarlo, where you can hear the trains rushing by, there you can find the little dolmen. The dolmen D6 is considered to be one of the prettiest dolmens in Drenthe.

Dolmen D10

Along the road to Gasteren and Oude Molen, in the Gasterse Duinen, there’s a remote dolmen. The dolmen is a bit impaired, because of a few stolen rocks, but it’s still worth the visit.

Dolmen D13

This special dolmen is unique, because it’s partly covered under its sand slope. You can access the dolmen with the small stairs, partly covered by the sand as well.

Drouwenerzand

Drouwenerzand is the most affordable amusement park in Europe! NEW in 2018 is the spectacular attraction Freak Out.

Dolmen D19 and D20

These two dolmens are neatly situated in a quiet park in Drouwen surrounded by grass. If you stand with your back to the road, dolmen D19 is the dolmen on the right side. Both dolmens are fairly complete, of the same size and are close to each other.

Dolmen D30

This dolmen stands at an intersection of forest paths. It was excavated in 1918 by the Groningen archaeologist Van Giffen. He found fragments of pottery outside the dolmen, a sign that people here used to make sacrifices or have meals for the dead.

Hotel de Oringer Marke - De Stee by flow

"Peace, hospitality, and coziness That's what we offer you at De Oringer Marke. Located in the heart of Odoorn, De Oringer Marke is an ideal starting point for beautiful cycling and hiking tours through the stunning nature of Drenthe."

New

Landgoed Meistershof

At Landgoed Meistershof you can enjoy the beautiful nature with your camper or caravan. At Landgoed Meistershof, all facilities are available for an unprecedented stay. From heated sanitary facilities to waste water, everything has been thought of.

End point: Kortbossen 5
9405 BM Assen

Directions