Balkbrug, Punthorst, Veeningen

The area around Westerhuizingerveld used to consist mainly of heathland. In the thirties, people started to reclaim the area. Farmers from all over the country came to Westerhuizingerveld to buy a piece of land and start a business. Woodland was planted on the 'bad' land.

Surrounding this polder landscape are several small villages, which you will pass by on this cycle route. Balkbrug is one of these villages. The village originated along the Dedemsvaart canal and owes its name to a beam that lay under a bridge in this canal. This beam had to prevent ships with too big a draught from passing this bridge. The beam lay on the crossing of this canal with the road from Ommen to Meppel, so that a somewhat larger settlement could arise here. The growth of the village was also stimulated by the establishment of a beggar colony by the Maatschappij van Weldadigheid in 1819 on the Ommerschans south of the village.

De Wijk is a reclaimed village, founded in the Middle Ages in the valley of the river Reest. Especially after the Second World War, the village expanded greatly with new buildings. The area around Westerhuizingerveld is still water-rich and green. The polder landscape that was created by the reclamation is a wonderful environment to discover by bike.

Note: there is a narrow cycle path near junction 76. Especially if the road surface is wet, it is advisable to cycle carefully here.