Wapserveen between village history, nature and cycling routes

Wapserveen is a long, linear village stretching more than seven kilometres from east to west. The open, rural landscape, with visible peat colonisation areas and strip fields, shapes the character of the village. South of Wapserveen begins Holtingerveld, a varied nature area with heathland, changes in elevation, burial mounds, war memorials and hunebeds.

Village history and distinctive buildings

A defining feature of the villagescape is Wapserveen’s wooden bell frame. It is made of oak, dates from 1775 and carries a modern bell. At the same time, it is the only remaining authentic free-standing bell frame in Drenthe. In the churchyard next to the church there is also an eight-sided Kerkespraaksteen, a Kostersteen. At Midden 73 stands a remnant of Jan Toet’s octagonal windmill from 1903.

The houses and former agricultural buildings also tell the story of the village’s development. On the southern side, imposing hall houses still stand, recalling Wapserveen’s agricultural past. The farmhouse at Oosteinde 10 has a side entrance and a residential section with a gable, decorative brickwork and a water ledge. The former Wapserveen cooperative dairy at Midden 184 retains part of its original single-storey factory building from 1896.

Plan a holiday apartment in Wapserveen around your travel interests

When planning a holiday apartment in Wapserveen, different interests can be combined with specific destinations. Route 1 passes through Wapserveen and by a distinctive bell frame next to the church. Route 4 passes the churches of Havelte, Wapserveen including the bell frame, and Uffelte. The themed cycling route Traces of the Second World War also passes through Wapserveen and combines cycling with places that recall the Second World War. This route is freely accessible and can be followed using signposts in the area, Drenthe.nl or the free DrentheRoutes app.

The surrounding area offers a range of other settings for experiencing nature and the landscape. The winding Wapserveense Aa flows north of Wapserveen through a landscape surrounded by nature and breeding areas. Havelterberg, a hill, lies nearby. Oldegaerde is a castle in the vicinity of Wapserveen. Boswachterij Vledderveld and Vledderhof, both parks, as well as the Sint-Nicolaaskerk, a church, are also located nearby. Further afield in the region lies Crackstate, a castle; Boswachterij Appelscha and Boswachterij Smilde, both parks, are also part of this wider area.

Wapserveen thus brings together village history and architectural heritage with a themed route of historical significance, as well as open landscapes around Holtingerveld and the Wapserveense Aa. The linear village’s geographical extent connects various impressions within the village, while the destinations in the surrounding area broaden the regional perspective.

Other places in the regional context: Frederiksoord, Havelte, Uffelte, Zorgvlied, Vledder, Dieverbrug, Wapse, Wilhelminaoord.

For the main travel overview: Westerveld.