Ommen, Rheeze, Giethmen

The municipality of Ommen has a long history: it was granted city rights as early as 1248. Ommen's illustrious past has had a major impact on the current municipality. For a long time, Ommen was affiliated with the Hanseatic city of Deventer. The city had little to offer other than agricultural products, but its location on the river Vecht gave it a function as one of the ‘Bijsteden’ (secondary cities).

One third of the surface is protected nature reserve with sand drifts, fens and heaths. From the Besthmenerberg you have a beautiful view over the forests, especially if you climb the observation tower at the top of the mountain!

The nature reserves around Ommen are former country estate forests that once formed part of the Eerde Country Estate. You will pass the country estate and the Castle of the same name on this route. It is a beautiful place to hop off and enjoy the historic building. If you continue cycling into the woods, you will suddenly come across the Dutch Sahara. This sand drift is also called the Sahara.

The river Vecht flows through the landscape and divides the forests with its water. Take in the fresh forest air and find yourself in nature on this cycling tour!