De Horst

Directions

• The village of Peize is mentioned as early as 1165. Huis te Peize was built in the 16th century and used to be one of the largest manors in Drenthe. This is where the Etstoel, Drenthe’s regional court from the Middle Ages until 1791, and the Landdag, its subsequent judicial assembly, would meet. In 1625, Huis te Peize hosted an extraordinary Landdag, when Ernst Casimir was elected the new stadhouder, or governor, of Drenthe after the Death of prince Maurits. The manor was demolished in 1818, after which the remains were used to build a house on the Bringweg which is still there to this day.
• Peize is home to many country houses, the most famous of which was Huis te Peize. Unfortunately, there is nothing left of this grand old residence. Around 1800, the economy declined, and many country houses were demolished. Only ‘Jachtlust’ manor on the Roderweg remains.
• The trail starts near the former Huis te Peize and continues towards De Horst, which is first mentioned in 1363. De Horst is built on a sand ridge in the peatland and consists of several large farms, including Middelhorst farm (1867) and Huis ter Hansouwe.
• The latter was built as a fortified stone farmhouse with a moat. The oldest parts of the house date from 1487. Huis ter Hansouwe defended the reeweg (old connecting road) from Groningen to Drenthe by the Peizermade at a ford through the Eelderdiep. In later times Huis ter Hansouwe defended the Eelde-Peize road and also served as a tollbooth. It is the only remaining medieval stone house in Drenthe and it is owned by Foundation for the Drenthe Landscape.
• Continue your walk towards Eelde, until you reach open farm ‘t Hoogeveld on the outskirts of the town. This organic farm with Limousin cows works with the Dutch Society for the Preservation of Nature to manage a 600-hectare peat meadow area in the new Onlanden nature reserve. ‘T Hoogeveld has an open stable especially for visitors.
• You leave Eelde behind and enter 'De Onlanden', the area between the Leekstermeer lake, Paterswoldsemeer lake, Peize and Eelde. The area is a nature reserve and is also used for water storage. Old rivers and ditches have been restored to their former glory, and because the area will be partly flooded in winter, marsh forests and wet grasslands will grow. Marvel at this paradise for riparian plants and marsh birds from the watchtower. The 25-metre-high tower has three different platforms, which offer spectacular views over this nature reserve and water storage area, as well as the skyline of Groningen. The watchtower consists of a sturdy steel construction clad in wood from forests managed by the Dutch Society for the Preservation of Nature in the Veluwe, surrounded by a spiral staircase.
• After enjoying the beautiful view, take the road back to Peize via the Zuiderdijk. The church of Peize was originally built in the 13th century. The church has one of the oldest and largest organs in Drenthe, the oldest parts of which date from 1631. In 1861, Van Oeckelen moved the organ to the church. The interior includes a Bentheimer sandstone baptismal font from the 13th century and a pulpit from 1751.
• Peize is also known for the production of beer and later the cultivation of hops. North of Peize, many dozens of so-called peat mounds were built in the peatlands. These mounds were originally 1 metre high, had a diameter of up to 40 metres and were covered with homes built from sods, as well as a well. In the 12th and 13th century, these peat mounds served as small beer breweries. From 1600 to 1840, Peize was the largest producer of hops in Drenthe, and to do justice to this long history, this age-old tradition of peat cultivation is continued in the Peize Hops garden.
• Walking through Peize, you pass the Paiser Meul, Peize’s corn mill, which was commissioned by a few bakers and farmers in 1898. In 1967, the mill was purchased by the then municipality of Peize, before being restored in 1971 and 1972.
• A narrow footpath behind the houses takes you back to the starting point, where ‘De Horst’ trail comes to an end. Sit back and relax in one of the many great local cafés or restaurants and look back at this beautiful hike.