Assen, Glimmen, Balloo

The Drentsche Aa is a stream that meanders between the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe and was formed during the Ice Age by the runoff of large quantities of meltwater. The entire stream valley landscape around the stream is the Drentsche Aa National Park. It is the best-preserved stream and village landscape in Western Europe that has been affected as little as possible by human hands.

This route takes you through that beautiful, ancient landscape. The landscape with its heaths, vast forests, sand lakes and beaches is a true paradise for people and for a whole range of flora and fauna. A small selection of the special creatures you might just cycle past: the otter, the beaver, the kingfisher or the damselfly. But also the most beautiful flowers and plants such as sundew, black rapunzel and various species of orchid.

Cycle along the Kymmelsberg near Schipborg. From the highest sand dune of the Drentsche Aa you can enjoy a beautiful view of the stream that winds its way through the landscape. It is an intriguing area where people have lived for at least five thousand years. The oldest evidence of this are the dolmens and burial mounds that you will encounter at several places along the route. Professor Albert van Giffen (1884-1973) researched and mapped these mysterious burial chambers at the beginning of the twentieth century. Some of the archaeological finds he made there are included in the archaeological collection of the Drents Museum.

Hidden among all this natural beauty are some twenty villages and hamlets with evocative names such as Tynaarlo, Balloo and Zeegse. The fields (with ash trees) are on the higher ground and the meadows are on the lower ground. The villages with their historic farms and village greens are located on these transitions. That is exactly what makes cycling through the cycling provinces of Drenthe and Groningen so varied. Nature and history alternate with large cities and small villages, but also with culture.

Finally, the diverse and vibrant capital of Drenthe, Assen, occupies an important place on this route. The former King Louis Napoleon of the Kingdom of Holland already recognised how beautiful this region is and chose Assen as his summer residence. In 1809, Assen was granted city rights by order of the king. The charming city grew into a city full of palaces and green parks and rich in cultural treasures. Enjoy the visual arts in the museums or simply in the street, the cosy little streets and lively outdoor cafés.

Can't get enough of all those wonderful pitstops and the calming nature? Then split the route in two, book an overnight stay and make it a great cycling weekend!