Havelterberg - Darp

The most striking element in the Holtingerveld is the Havelterberg. This hill is 19 metres high and, together with the Bisschopsberg and the Woldberg, was pushed up by glaciers about 150,000 years ago in the penultimate ice age, the Saalien. The ice pushed tons of material ahead of it and crushed it into a thick layer of boulder clay. After the ice melted away, this ‘mess’ was left behind.

Also special are the dolmens and burial mounds, built by people from a distant past. During World War II, these dolmens had to make way for the expansion of a military airfield built here by the occupying forces.

Havelte airfield was built in 1942. Workers were needed to construct it. Three barracks camps were built, including a labour camp that housed prisoners from all over the country. For this purpose, the village of Darp, which you also cycle through during this route, was relocated. The inhabitants had to move to another place, so the original Darp could be demolished and the airfield expanded.

Traces of this airfield can still be recognised in the landscape. During the liberation, the airfield was bombed very violently. In fact, more bombs fell here than during the bombing of Rotterdam. The bomb craters can be seen in many places in Holtingerveld. Meanwhile, pools and fens have formed in them and numerous unusual plant and animal species live there.

Dieuwertje Blok tells the whole story of the military airfield and which traces are still visible in the video in the Efita Cycling App.

Photo: ©Zuidwest Drenthe