Holiday apartment in Gieten: Nature, Trails and Cultural Heritage

Gieten is a destination for days spent on holiday where nature and local history come together. The Hondsrug, the Hunze, nature reserves and historic buildings give your stay a range of different directions. Those considering a holiday apartment in Gieten can plan their time around hiking routes, a cycling tour and cultural discoveries. The appeal lies not in a single attraction, but in the combination of these specific destinations.

Hiking across the Hondsrug and through the heathland

The signposted Dorp en Veld hiking route is 13 kilometres long and runs between Gieten and Gasselte. It crosses the Hondsrug through woodland and heathland. The route can be reached from the Spiekersteeg or Brink bus stops in Gieten; from either stop, it is about a five-minute walk to the starting point.

Breevenen, the Hunze and Zwanemeerbos

Breevenen is a new nature reserve of more than 250 hectares east of Gieten, Annen and Eext, forming a single area with Zwanemeerbos. A digital hiking route of approximately 6.5 kilometres runs over the embankments around the new nature reserve along the Hunze. One of the hiking routes leading through Breevenen starts at Zwanemeer swimming pool near Gieten. North of Gieten, Zwanemeerbos contains burial mounds spread across three groups.

Gieten also offers a clearly described route for a cycling tour: it leads over the hills of Bonnen and through the picturesque hamlet of Veenhof to Gieterveen, crossing the Hunze along the way. Another route, Gieten: Hondsrug en Hunze, runs past five new nature reserves of Drentse Landschap, through which the Hunze winds its way.

Church, mill and traces of bygone occupations

The Dorpskerk Gieten and its freestanding tower have been recognised as Rijksmonumenten since 1965—that is, as nationally protected monuments in the Netherlands. Two bells from the 16th century hang in the tower. A medieval church dedicated to Mary once stood on the grounds of the Dorpskerk Gieten.

The Hazewind mill is one of the oldest surviving grain mills in Drenthe. The ground floor of Molen Hazewind has been set up for performances. The statue De Dorpssmid stands on the site of the former Dijkhuizen smithy and commemorates an occupation that has almost died out. Alongside landscapes, you can therefore also encounter evidence of craftsmanship, religious history and regional culture.

Choose a holiday apartment in Gieten based on your daily itinerary

When choosing a holiday apartment in Gieten, you can plan your daily rhythm around the routes and locations: hiking on the Hondsrug and along the Hunze, cycling through Bonnen and Veenhof, or exploring culture at the Dorpskerk Gieten, Hazewind and De Dorpssmid. Whether you want to explore trails and nature reserves or discover traces of the past, these different focuses provide a clear basis for planning your stay.

Other destinations for orientation: Gasselternijveen, Eexterzandvoort, Schoonloo, Grolloo, Gasselte, Nooitgedacht, Rolde, Anloo

For the broader travel overview: Aa En Hunze.