Discover Twenterand: Holiday apartment, raised bog, culture and Linderbeek

Den Ham is located at the meeting point of Twente, the Vechtdal and Salland. In Twenterand, landscapes bearing visible traces of cultural history, rare natural areas, waterways and routes for walking or cycling meet one another. The Engbertsdijksvenen are particularly distinctive: they are one of the few places in the Netherlands where active raised bog can still be found. The Linderbeek, which winds south of Den Ham towards Ommen and onwards to the Vecht, is also one of the defining geographical features.

Nature

The Engbertsdijksvenen can be explored along several designated paths, although the central part of the area is not accessible to the public. Outside this area, visitors can walk along the designated hiking trails. The Heath Route passes bodies of water, crosses the sandy rise or “Haar” with its heath vegetation, and runs along the core of the raised bog. The Leidijk Route runs through the southern tip of the Engbertsdijksvenen in Twente, following peat cuttings and waterways.

In the northern part of the Engbertsdijksvenen, the Freek van ’n Ekkelpad is a short circular trail. From there, there are views of the Friese Koelen, a body of water with numerous waterbirds. Outside this peatland area, the Fayersheide is another preserved remnant of the landscape: during land consolidation, it was preserved as a remnant of the old landscape because of its distinctive flora and fauna.

The Mageler Es also has a distinctive character. A prominent Jewish cemetery lies at its centre, while another Jewish cemetery is located on the edge of the Es; a ring of farmsteads surrounds them. In the Veenschap, long, narrow arable plots can still be seen, some of which extended for several kilometres.

Culture and history

The Veenmuseum provides an insight into this period through the way people lived, resided and worked during peat extraction in Noord-Twente from around 1850 to around 1950. The grounds include rides on original peat trains. Along the way, the trains stop at furnished peat huts, an old Vriezenveen farmstead and a former shop with a bar. The grounds can also be explored via a circular route of approximately 30 minutes.

The Historisch Museum Vriezenveen covers the Rusluie, textile production and the centuries-old history of the village of Vriezenveen. It is located in the former town hall in the centre of Vriezenveen. A separate focus is placed on the history of the Rusluie: in the 18th and 19th centuries, this group of Vriezenveen merchants sold goods in Russia and even founded a trading colony there in Saint Petersburg.

The Peddemorsboerderij serves as a cultural centre and hosts exhibitions, events, discussion evenings, workshops and other activities throughout the year. It has held Rijksmonument status since 1972. The history of Den Ham, Vroomshoop and Geerdijk is presented at the Streekmuseum Middendorpshuis through various themes.

The Leemansmolen is a historic windmill dating from 1862. By arrangement, groups can take guided tours there with explanations of how the mill works, as well as demonstrations of the centuries-old technique of grinding grain.

Things to do

The Wederopbouwgebied Vriezenveen was designated by the government in 2011 as one of 30 areas from the post-war reconstruction period of national cultural-historical significance. A cycle route through this area follows public roads and partly follows the bicycle junction network. The historic structure also remains visible in the Veenschap, where the long, narrow arable plots extended for several kilometres in some cases.

In Twenterand, themed routes take hikers past particularly beautiful places. These paths can be recognised by their own symbol and name on arrows and signs. A children's cycle route passes the “Sahara”, a large area of windblown sand, as well as several frog ponds. A children's cycle route also passes an ice-cream farm, where you can get to know the farm animals via the “KOEPAD” and try homemade farm ice cream.

Water

The Linderbeek winds south of Den Ham towards Ommen and onwards to the Vecht. At Camping en kanoverhuur De Linderbeek, canoe trips are possible in small or large groups, using kayaks or Canadian canoes. A circular tour on the Linderbeek is approximately 17 kilometres long.

Food and drink

Kalkwijck Distillers offers tours and tastings by arrangement. Spirits are produced there from grain grown on the surrounding land owned by the company.

Places in Twenterand

Twenterand also includes Den Ham and Westerhaar-Vriezenv Wijk. The further selection of places therefore leads to two different names within the same municipal area, while museums, peatland landscapes, waterways and routes reveal the various sides of the region.

To the overarching travel overview: Overijssel.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Staphorst, Kampen, Dinkelland, Almelo, Tubbergen, Olst-Wijhe.