Holiday apartment in Bakkeveen: dunes, trails and history

Bakkeveen combines impressive dune landscapes with hiking trails, natural assets and a remarkable history. When you choose a holiday apartment in Bakkeveen, you can plan your stay entirely according to your interests: among quiet landscapes, family-friendly experiences, historical traces and varied routes.

Nature among dunes, forest and heathland

The Bakkefeansterdúnen form a dune area surrounded by forest and heathland. Fourteen species of cup lichen occur there, including the rare Grondster. The sandy area and hiking trails of the Bakkefeansterdúnen are accessible all year round. The Mandefjild has Natura 2000 status because of its special natural values. This landscape also includes burial mounds from the Late Stone Age, approximately 3,500 to 4,000 years old.

Hiking trails for different day plans

The Groot rondje Bakkeveense Duinen hiking route is 8.5 kilometres long and can be followed using green trail markers or the hiking junction network. The Bakkeveen–Allardsoog hike along the Turfroute starts at the car park at the junction of Nije Drintsewei, Jarig van der Wielenwei and Bakkeveense weg in Bakkeveen. It then leads over undulating dunes and sandy paths. The yellow-marked Pronkrondje at De Slotplaats is also suitable for wheelchair users, rollator users and people with prams because of its firm-sand paths. TOP Bakkeveen is a starting point for hiking and cycling tours in Bakkeveen and the surrounding area and is located near the cycling and/or hiking junction network. The Slotplaats Bakkeveen hike starts at the Natuurmonumenten information centre. The tenth stage of the Stellingenpad long-distance hiking trail also passes through Bakkeveen: it starts at hiking junction 82 in Donkerbroek and continues to Haulerwijk.

Historical traces and special places

The De Slotplaats estate near Bakkeveen was established in 1668. Blauwhuis Castle, built at the time by the Aylva family, was demolished in 1838, while the associated castle farm was preserved. De Slotplaats is also home to the Sterrenschans, a hexagonal, star-shaped earthwork that was probably built to teach the young nobleman mathematics and fortification construction. The former Allardsoog inn dates from 1785 and was rebuilt in 1890. The former Reformed church of Bakkeveen was built in 1856 in the neoclassical style. At Nije Drintsewei, the Bakkeveen resistance memorial commemorates ten Groningen resistance fighters who were shot by the occupying forces on 10 April 1945.

Views, play and art

The Belvedere in Bakkeveen is a 23-metre-high viewing point. The De Dwaler maze park offers mazes, play equipment, a gold-panning course and a zip line. This allows families to combine days in nature with playful discoveries. The IJsbaankunstroute starts at the Toeristisch Overstap Punt (TOP) Bakkeveen. Its Bakkeveen stop features a work of art by Baukje Venema with Bakkeveen's natural ice rink.

Choose the right holiday apartment according to your interests

The different experiences available in Bakkeveen can help with the personal planning of your choice of holiday apartment. Those who prefer extended walks can consider the 8.5-kilometre dune route, the paths through undulating dunes or the accessible Pronkrondje. Families can include De Dwaler maze park in their plans, while visitors interested in culture can combine De Slotplaats, the Sterrenschans, the former church and the resistance memorial. This means Bakkeveen remains varied even when holiday interests change: nature, history, views, art and exercise are available in different forms.

Further destinations for regional orientation

Hemrik, Lippenhuizen, Wijnjewoude, Olterterp, Tijnje, Jonkerslan, Beetsterzwaag and Gorredijk

For the higher-level travel overview: Opsterland.