Emmen, Veenoord, Nieuw-Amsterdam

Emmen, in the middle of Drenthe, is known for its natural surroundings with vast forests and heathlands. The landscape lends itself perfectly to beautiful cycle routes and offers great views over the old moorland. This spacious city is also known as Vlinderstad (Butterfly City), a nice nod to the now renovated zoo.

Cycling through the landscape, you can understand where Van Gogh got his inspiration. From Hoogeveen, he travelled six hours to get to Emmen. He had a room here, where he tried to capture his feelings about Drenthe on canvas. He painted 6 beautiful canvases with inspiration from this region. At the Van Gogh Huis, you can dive into the life of the world-famous painter for free.

In Drenthe, it is not easy to get bored. Because people have lived here for so long, there is history from all times. You can also hop off at Dolmen D43. The Funnel Beaker people buried their dead in these structures, together with various pottery. You can also hop off at Molen Nooit Gedacht. The mill has stood in several locations in history and has burned down a few times. Years ago, the mill was renovated, allowing you to admire it again.