Hardenberg, Gramsbergen, Coevorden

Once you are somewhere, you will want to explore the surrounding area. This cycle route takes you to the Hardenberg, Gramsbergen and Coevorden area, a great area to explore! Each town has its own character and historic, picturesque city centre. They have all also been of great commercial importance.

For example, Hardenberg was a Hanseatic city in the 16th century. Gramsbergen was originally a fortified town with a castle in the centre. Coevorden is the oldest city in Drenthe and used to be an important transit harbour for goods from the German Rhineland to Groningen and Stavoren. As a result, Coevorden was granted city rights in the Middle Ages.

The importance and development of the cities was mainly due to their favourable location on the river Vecht. As you can see, the river Vecht has played a major role for all three cities. You can experience this rich history on this Cycle route. You will cycle from Hanseatic city to fortified city along the beautiful nature of the Vecht valley in the province of Overijssel.

Along the way you will come across interesting museums, each telling their own story about the region. Through archaeological finds, rooms decorated as they would have been in grandmother's time, collections of prehistoric objects and (sur)realistic art, you will soon know everything there is to know about the Vechtdal.