Holiday apartment in Aa en Hunze: heathland, cycle paths and megalithic tombs

Aa en Hunze combines extensive forests and heathland with a wide range of opportunities for hiking, cycling and water-based recreation. At the same time, the municipality forms part of a larger cultural landscape: the UNESCO Global Geopark De Hondsrug extends across the provinces of Drenthe and Groningen, encompasses seven municipalities including Aa en Hunze, and includes the stream valleys of the Drentsche Aa and the Hunze.

Landscape and nature

Balloërveld is a heathland area in the municipality of Aa en Hunze with peat lakes, pine forest and small areas of wind-blown sand. In addition to extensive sandy and heathland areas, burial mounds and medieval cart tracks can also be seen there. The flock of sheep can be found on Balloërveld every day together with the shepherd.

Another distinctive landscape is “Duunsche Landen”. The deflation basin is the largest in Drenthe and has a diameter of more than one kilometre. “Duunsche Landen” is also one of the 85 hotspots in the De Hondsrug Geopark; the surrounding natural landscape provides a habitat for badgers, beavers, round-leaved bellflowers and harebells.

The Anloërdiepje stream meanders past Anloo through an area with old hedgerows and hay meadows. Gasselterveld is also part of the municipality’s natural attractions: it is open for daytime recreation and to the public from sunrise to sunset. Swimming in Gasselterveld is entirely at your own responsibility and risk.

Hiking

Several clearly described hiking experiences start in Anloo. The “Anlooër Diepje” hiking trail is 11 kilometres long and starts in Anloo. The “Strubben Kniphorstbosch” hiking trail also begins in Anloo and is 9 kilometres long. The hike along the Anloërdiepje starts and ends in Anloo and follows easily walkable paths along the western and eastern flanks.

The “Langs de Aa en de strubben” route follows the Drentsche Aa and the unspoilt Anlooërdiep, and passes through De Strubben and Kniphorstbosch. Along the way are megalithic tombs, burial mounds and the oldest church in Drenthe. A shorter route runs for 2.3 kilometres from the “Huis van de Drentsche Aa” or Bistro Aa in Deurze along the Aardkundig Monument. At the Deurzerdiep in the municipality of Aa en Hunze, the stream system of the Drentsche Aa has the status of an “Aardkundig Monument”.

Network and information

Smart owl information points in Aa en Hunze provide local information about businesses, hiking, cycling and horse-riding routes, places of tourist interest, the Nationaal Park Drentsche Aa and the Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark. The hiking junction network in Aa en Hunze was largely completed by the end of December 2023.

Cycling and cultural landscape

The “Steengoed Rondje” is a 38.4-kilometre cycle route that passes 11 megalithic tombs in the municipality of Aa en Hunze. The two varied cycle routes called “Langs Torens en Wieken” are each around 50 kilometres long and pass various mills and churches, including the centuries-old Magnuskerk in Anloo.

Regional businesses are also located along the routes. The 26-kilometre “Aanstreekelijk Aa en Hunze – route 2” cycle route passes apiaries, farm shops, the largest flock of sheep and a milk filling station. Fruitbedrijf en Landwinkel de Marwijkshof offers regional products, a pick-your-own garden, a maize maze and a terrace.

Local points of interest

At the starting point of the “Natuurlijk rondje Gasselternijveen” route at Baptistenkade 32 in Gasselternijveen, visitors can park and enjoy coffee, tea, pastries or an extensive high tea.

Other places

Eext, Eexterzandvoort, Gasselte, Grolloo, Nieuwediep, Schoonloo, Gasselternijveen, Anderen, Nooitgedacht, Vredenheim, Rolde, Gieten, Anloo, Annen, Nijlande, Balloo, Papenvoort and Gieterveen.

To the main travel overview: Drenthe.