Buinen: Hondsrug, Hunebed and Village History

Buinen lies on the eastern slope of the Hondsrug. The surrounding area tells a story of Ice Age landforms, while archaeological and historical traces reveal different periods in the village’s history. There is also a horse-riding route through the forests between Buinen, Borger and Exloo. Nature, village history and the railway’s past each offer a distinct focus. If you are looking for a holiday home, this mix can help you decide what you would like your stay to centre on.

Landscape of the Hondsrug

Numerous pingo ruins lie in the forests between Ees, Buinen and Exloo. They were formed during the last Ice Age as ice lenses grew in the frozen ground. Their origins make these landforms a distinctive natural feature: alongside their present-day appearance, they also draw attention to how the terrain was formed. The Achterste Diep stream still flows east of Buinen. Together with the Voorste Diep, it flows into the Hunze. This brings two different perspectives on the landscape together: landforms created during the Ice Age and a stream that continues to flow.

Archaeological heritage and village history

Hunebed D28 near Buinen is managed by Het Drentse Landschap as an archaeological monument. The village’s history dates back to the Middle Ages, when Buinen began as an esdorp and daughter settlement of Borger. A later commemorative planting is the Prinses Beatrix-eik. It was planted in 1938 to mark the birth of Princess Beatrix, later Queen Beatrix.

These points of reference differ in type and age: an archaeological monument, the village’s medieval origins and a tree planted in a specific year in the 20th century. If you are travelling with children, they can prompt different questions about local history—from early settlement to a particular historical occasion. Buinen cannot be reduced to a single period.

Railway history

The railway’s history also has several specific points of interest. In 1905, the Noord-Ooster Lokaal Spoorwegmaatschappij opened a station in Buinen on the Zwolle–Stadskanaal line. The Spoorstraat is a surviving reminder of the area’s railway history. In 2005, the Spoordok was excavated again, and walking trails were created.

The two dates mark different events: the station opened in 1905, while the Spoordok was excavated again and the walking trails were created in 2005. Along with the Spoorstraat, these offer several perspectives on Buinen’s railway past—another facet of local history alongside the village’s medieval origins and archaeological heritage.

The Ruiterroute Hondsrug Buinen

For a stay centred on horse riding, the Ruiterroute Hondsrug Buinen is a specific point of interest. It runs through the forests between Borger, Buinen and Exloo. The route is marked with light brown square signs bearing a white horseshoe; follow the signs along the way. A parking space for horse trailers is available for the route at Manege Les Chevaux in Buinen. Calling ahead is recommended. If you are arriving with a trailer and would like to use the parking space, call in advance.

Choosing Buinen as a holiday destination

When looking for a holiday home in Buinen, you can start by asking what kind of stay you have in mind: would you like to focus mainly on the Hondsrug landscape and pingo ruins, follow local history from its medieval origins through to the railway, or make the Ruiterroute the main focus? These themes offer different reasons to consider Buinen as a holiday destination. If nature, cultural history and a horse-riding route are to shape your trip, you can choose your destination to match these interests.

Discover more destinations

Borger, Drouwen, Drouwenerveen, Eesergroen, Klijndijk, Exloo, Valthe, Valthermond

For the broader travel overview: Borger-Odoorn.