Veendam, Wolfsbarge, Annerveen

This cycling tour follows the Hunze river, which begins in Drenthe and flows towards Groningen. In the past, the Hunze was largely straightened to make the surrounding land suitable for agriculture. In recent years, a lot of work has been done to give the river back its natural, winding course. This has transformed the landscape into a beautiful marshland area that benefits many animals. One special example is the beaver, which has re-established itself here. With a bit of luck, you may spot traces of these rodents along the route, such as gnawed-through tree trunks or dams in the water.

You will cycle through the Hunze valley, a vast stream valley on the eastern side of the Hondsrug ridge. This landscape was formed during the ice age, when meltwater carved out a wide valley. This was once a large marsh area, but in the last century the river was straightened and the land drained for agriculture. Since 1995, nature organisations have been working on restoration projects, which have allowed more and more wetlands to return. This has led to a wide variety of plants and animals. During your trip you will pass open water, grasslands and marshes, where you can see countless birds, such as herons, spoonbills and maybe even an osprey.

A special part of this landscape is the Duunsche Landen, an area of river dunes that was formed during the last ice age. Here, the harsh polar wind blew sand into high dunes. One of the most striking features is the blowout bowl, a deep pit created by the wind blowing the sand out of the area. With a diameter of over a kilometre, this is the largest blowout basin in Drenthe, and has therefore been designated a geological monument. Further on you will come to Leinwijk, a nature reserve where the Kikkoman windmill pumps water from the Zuidlaarder Lake to a marsh. This marsh helps purify the water in a natural way and attracts many special plants and animals. While cycling here, you can enjoy the panoramic landscape and the rich nature of this unique stream valley.