Hoogeveen, Slagharen

Cycle along through a world of greenery and water on this delightful route from Slagharen to Hoogeveen! As you make your way through forests and past various ponds, you will discover a landscape with a rich history rooted in the 18th and 19th centuries. Where peat extraction and fencing once determined the rhythm of daily life, a paradise has now emerged for nature lovers.

The forests near Forests Hollandscheveld are among the oldest in Drenthe and are now a wonder of lush greenery. That while everything you see here was created by the hand of man. Here you can see the old peat canals that, sometimes as much as three metres lower than the trees, meander through the forest landscape like silent reminders.

A highlight of the route is definitely The Vloeivelden, an area with a unique genesis. These lakes and ponds used to be the rinse pools of an old potato flour factory. What was once industrial land is now a vibrant nature reserve where numerous bird species have found their home. Take time to stop, get off your bike and admire the view from the observation tower.