Eesergroen – Discover Heathland, Forest and Village History

Eesergroen combines the history of a land reclamation village with varied landscapes and plenty of options for walking and cycling days. The village lies between three extensive forest and heathland areas: the Boswachterij van Schoonloo, the Boswachterij Exloo and the Boswachterij Odoorn. If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home for your trip, Eesergroen therefore provides an interesting base for a wide range of day plans.

Heathland, forest and wide-ranging views

In the area around Eesergroen, Drenthe heath sheep helped the Schapenpark develop into a heathland landscape. At the northern edge of the Schapenpark stands the artwork “Ode aan de Zon”. This landscape therefore combines nature and art, without requiring you to commit to a single destination.

Another special feature is Poolshoogte in the Boswachterij Odoorn. In the area around Eesergroen, an alternative route from junction 6 leads to this hill with an observation tower. Poolshoogte offers wide-ranging views over the surrounding area. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between a shorter exploration of the heathland, a visit to the artwork and a route featuring a viewpoint.

Walking and cycling around Eesergroen

Anyone wishing to explore the village on foot can follow the Knapzakroute Westdorp–Eesergroen. In Eesergroen, the route gives Dorpsstraat 2, 9537 TC Eesergroen as its starting point. This specific information makes it easier to prepare for a day of walking, especially if you want to combine a visit to the village with a set route.

There are also various starting points for cycling tours. The alternative route from junction 6 leads to Poolshoogte, while the forests and heathlands around Eesergroen provide the scenic backdrop for further discoveries. If your group has different interests, you can combine active days with nature observation, a viewpoint or a cultural stop along the way.

A village with its own history of development

Eesergroen was established in 1882, when the Eeserveld was reclaimed and the first pioneers settled there. As early as 1930, a branch of the Buinen-Schoonoord canal was dug to the land reclamation village of Eesergroen. The village later developed into a linear settlement, with ribbon development mainly on both sides of the Dorpsstraat, the main road from Ees towards Eeserveen. A small village centre emerged at the junction of the Dorpsstraat and Turfstraat.

Former facilities are also part of the village’s history. From 1917 to 1975, Eesergroen had a Reformed chapel belonging to the Maranatha Evangelisation Association. The whitewashed former Maranatha Chapel now serves as a holiday home. The small harbour of Eesergroen, with its turning basin, was filled in in 1975. Changes like these show how the village and its functions have changed over time.

Choose accommodation based on your preferred travel theme

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Eesergroen, it is worth deciding first how you want to spend your days. Those who want to go walking can include the aforementioned starting point of the Knapzakroute in their plans. For cycling days, the route to Poolshoogte and the surrounding forests and heathlands offer a different focus. Those interested in village history will find several specific themes to explore, including the Dorpsstraat, the small village centre, the former chapel and the filled-in harbour. As a culinary tip, Lucy’s Inn in Eesergroen is mentioned as a place for High Tea in Drenthe.

For further orientation in this overview, you will also find Bronneger, Drouwenerveen, Drouwenermond, Tweede Exloërmond, Exloo, Borger, Valthe and Odoorn.

For the overarching travel overview: Borger-Odoorn.