Holiday apartment in Een-West: History and Schansduinen

Een-West is located near the point where the provinces of Drenthe, Groningen and Friesland meet. The village emerged around 100 years ago during the reclamation of the Eenerveld and developed into a dispersed settlement village. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Een-West will find a place whose character is revealed through scattered buildings, the landscape and historic paths.

History along the paths and at the redoubt

The first settlers of Een-West were mainly farmers and peat workers from Friesland and Groningen. The dispersed settlement developed primarily along the Hoofdweg, Schansweg and Vennootsweg. These roads make the village’s distinctive settlement pattern tangible.

As early as the Middle Ages, a path led across the Zwartendijk from Norg via Een and Bakkeveen to Friesland. The Zwartendijksterschans was built as an earthwork redoubt in the winter of 1593–1594 between Bakkeveen in Friesland and the village of Een in Drenthe, to protect Friesland from incursions by Spanish troops under Governor Verdugo.

The Zwartendijksterschans is a square defensive work from the 16th century, constructed on the orders of the Frisian governor Willem Lodewijk. It is located on the Schansweg between Een and Een-West and is freely accessible to the public.

Cycling route, heathland and distinctive nature

The Friese Waterlinie I cycling route leads, among other places, to the Zwartendijksterschans. On its way to Drenthe, it crosses the N979 and leads to the redoubt near the village of Een-West. This provides an active holiday with a specific cycling focus that combines historical themes with a tour.

The Schansduinen consist of a western and an eastern section. The western section contains dry heathland, predominantly characterised by heather; bell heather also grows in wetter areas. East of the Hoofdweg lies a property with woodland and wasteland, which is a remnant of the formerly extensive Schansduinen.

Day-flying butterflies are also among the remarkable nature observations in the Schansduinen: in 2025, a total of 847 day-flying butterflies from 26 species were recorded there.

The right holiday apartment for your travel plans

When choosing a holiday apartment in Een-West, you can decide on the focus you want for your days: history around the redoubt and Zwartendijk, nature observation in the Schansduinen or cycling on the Friese Waterlinie I. The village’s history, heathland areas and cycling route provide different points of connection, without requiring you to commit to just one type of holiday.

In Drenthe, De Drie Provinciën is a relatively small campsite set in park-like grounds. At the border of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe, there is also the De Drie Provinciën restaurant near Bakkeveen.

More places for your travel planning: Roderwolde, Norg, Zuidvelde, Roderesch, Een, Alteveer, Veenhuizen, Peize.

To the overarching travel overview: Noordenveld.