Holiday apartment in Schoonebeek: Culture, Raised Bogs and Hiking Experiences

Schoonebeek is ideal for a trip that combines cultural history, peat traditions, nature and unusual hiking events. A holiday apartment in Schoonebeek is particularly suitable if you want to plan your days around your interests: architecture and historical traces, animals and play facilities, hiking trails in an area with rare raised bogs, or a signposted cycling route across the Dutch-German border.

Cultural history between tower, farm and church

The air-watch tower 7Z3 was built on the Schoonebeekerdiep south of Schoonebeek in 1954 for the Korps Luchtwachtdienst. In 2019, it was restored by the Stichting Drents Monument and subsequently transferred to Het Drentse Landschap.

Zwaantje Hans-Stokman's Hof is a carefully restored traditional Saxon farmhouse with a barn in Schoonebeek and probably dates from the 17th century. The Zaalkerk Schoonebeek 1927 was built in 1927 to a design by the architect J. Boelens from Assen. It is a simple hall church with seven bays, buttresses and an attached tower in the objective-expressionist style of the interwar period.

Van Gogh and peat traditions

The Van Gogh Beleeftuin was created in 2022 on the site of the former Nicolaaskerk and part of its old churchyard. The flower beds follow the contours of the former church's floor plan. The former shape of the church therefore defines the design of the grounds.

The Turfcafé Schoonebeek is located in a former peat-litter factory founded by the Veldkamp family in 1926 and converted into a catering establishment in 1978. The original arches of the former loading facility for peat boats and numerous tools have been preserved.

Nature, animals and trails

Griendtsveenpark has one playground for younger children and another for older children, as well as a cableway. The animal park is home to sheep, chickens, deer, rabbits, ponies, geese, peacocks and turkeys.

Existing hiking trails in Oosteindscheveen were rerouted and improved. In 2024, redevelopment began there on an area of 128 hectares with extensive rare raised bogs. For hikers, this place therefore combines trail networks with a distinctive bog landscape.

Hiking events and a cross-border route

The Boortorenwandeltocht has been held annually since 1957 on the last Saturday in August. The Midwinterhoornwandeltocht was added to the hiking programme in 2012 and takes place on the Sunday before or after Christmas. This allows you to choose a holiday apartment or holiday home based on the hiking event and travel period.

The Emmelkamp Route is signposted in the Netherlands and Germany; the border is crossed at bicycle junction 34. For cyclists, this creates a cross-border touring idea with a clearly marked crossing point.

Choose a holiday apartment in Schoonebeek based on your travel interests

When choosing your holiday apartment or holiday home in Schoonebeek, you can decide what to focus on during your stay: historic buildings, peat traditions, animal and play facilities, bog trails, cycling or seasonal hikes. This way, your accommodation choice is guided by the experience you are looking for on holiday.

Other destinations in the surrounding area

For further travel planning, you can also consider Nieuw-Amsterdam, Zwartemeer, Emmen, Erica, Emmer-Compascuum, Roswinkel and Weiteveen.

For the higher-level travel overview: Emmen.