Holiday apartment in Oude Willem: Nature, Hiking and History

Oude Willem combines nature observation, hiking trails and historic memorial sites in a landscape undergoing its own transformation. The former 450-hectare agricultural area lies at the centre of Drents-Friese Wold National Park. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Oude Willem, you can plan your trip around specific nature, activity and cultural themes.

Water, Forest and Birdlife

Oude Willem is to be restored as the natural source area of the Vledder Aa. A newly created shallow channel gradually directs excess water to the Vledder Aa during heavy rainfall. Along the forest edges, planted shrubs create a natural transition between forest and fields. Cranes forage in this landscape; snipe and lapwings breed in Oude Willem. This gives nature enthusiasts observation opportunities that bring together water, open spaces, forest edges and birdlife.

Hiking and Nature: Holiday Apartment in Oude Willem

Many narrow, winding paths run through the first section of the Oude Willem hiking route. The route passes an observation screen with a special climbing aid for children. The Tilgrup Valley is an approximately 6-kilometre hiking route near Oude Willem marked with red signs. Along the route, wooden footbridges allow you to cross the meandering Tilgrup stream with dry feet. The Oude Willem hiking route also passes through a plantation forest from the 1930s in Drents-Friese Wold. Those travelling with children will find a specific shared destination along the route; those looking for varied trail scenery can regard the narrow paths and stream as distinct hiking highlights.

Cycle Paths, Bridleways and New Landscape Perspectives

Further route features are important for cyclists and riders. The replacement cycle path through Oude Willem runs across higher, drier ground outside the quiet core zone and passes a new viewing hill. A new bridleway and riding track connects the natural areas on both sides of the Oude Willemsweg. When choosing accommodation in Oude Willem, you can compare these differences in route layout with your planned daily interests, without reducing the area to just one type of trip.

Memorial Sites with a Specific History

The history is also specific. The “Diever A and Diever B” memorial on Bosweg in Oude Willem commemorates Jewish forced labourers. It consists of a glass memorial plaque between two curved concrete posts; a Star of David is located above the text. The burial mounds near Oude Willem bear witness to prehistoric settlement. In the forests near Oude Willem, a memorial sign commemorates the crew of a Canadian aircraft that crashed there on 22 November 1943. Alongside nature and outdoor activities, these sites also give a trip a historical focus.

A holiday apartment in Oude Willem can be chosen according to your preferred holiday theme: the focus can be on birdwatching, narrow hiking paths, the Tilgrup stream, cycle paths or the history of the area. These routes and memorial sites provide specific points of reference for planning your own days.

For further orientation, you can also explore Zorgvlied, Vledder, Diever, Frederiksoord, Uffelte, Wapserveen, Vledderveen and Wapse.

For the overarching travel overview: Westerveld.