Weiteveen: Raised Bogs, Routes and History

Bargerveen, at the centre of which Weiteveen is located, is one of the largest remaining raised bogs in the Netherlands. The village is surrounded by extensive, partly undeveloped raised bog areas that extend beyond the national border. Around Weiteveen, preserved bogland, open veld landscapes and traces of peat extraction come together.

Raised Bogs and Cultural Landscape

Undisturbed raised bog has been preserved in Bargerveen. Unique plant species found in the Netherlands grow there, including five-ranked bog moss and long-leaved sundew. The Schoonebeeker Veld also shapes the surrounding area with a unique and varied cultural landscape that is increasingly being returned to nature. The largely peat-extracted, open and water-rich Amsterdamsche Veld provides a habitat for many bird species. In the same surroundings, preserved raised bog with distinctive plant life, a changing cultural landscape and an open, water-rich veld providing a habitat for many bird species can therefore be found side by side. For nature enthusiasts, the area around Weiteveen thus offers distinctive bog vegetation, open water-rich veld areas and a changing cultural landscape.

Sheepfold and Bog Hike

Schaapskooi Weiteveen is the largest sheepfold in the Netherlands for conservation grazing. It has room for 1,000 sheep and 110 cattle. Every spring, it opens its doors to visitors for Lammetjesdag, when visitors can see, pet and feed newborn lambs. At Veenpoort Natuur, visitors can also take part in a bog hike through the unique Bargerveen nature reserve with a local guide. On 4 March, nine new “Veenlandpaden” hiking routes were officially opened in Weiteveen. The sheepfold, Lammetjesdag, the bog hike and the new Veenlandpaden each focus on different aspects of animal husbandry, guided bog walks and hiking.

History and Art in Weiteveen

The Natuur Infocentrum in Weiteveen is housed in the former Maria Chapel. Bicycle and hiking routes are available there. The Veenloopcentrum explains how nuns and pioneers once lived in a village in the middle of the bog. The history of the former convent is commemorated by the Non van Weiteveen, a bronze statue created in its honour. De Gescheurde Steen is a work of art made from a large split erratic boulder and commemorates the peat extraction work. For those interested in culture, Weiteveen thus brings together a former religious building, the memory of a former convent and a work of art related to the history of peat extraction.

Hiking and Cycling Across the Border

The hiking and cycling junction networks in Bargerveen and its surroundings also cross the German border. Those choosing between hiking and cycling will find two specific junction networks with a cross-border focus in Weiteveen, as well as the “Veenlandroute” and “Veenomenaal” routes. The Veenlandroute starts at Schaapskooi Weiteveen and uses the hiking junction network. For cycling tours, the “Veenomenaal” route uses the cycling junction network and includes Veenpoort in Weiteveen. The “Weiteveenroute” hiking route is closed from 4 May 2026 until approximately January 2027 due to extensive construction work at Puffer Süd.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

More places: Schoonebeek, Emmen, Erica, Roswinkel, Zwartemeer, Emmer-Compascuum and Nieuw-Amsterdam.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Emmen.