Estates and manor houses

Some of the most beautiful and best-preserved country estates in the Netherlands are located in South-West Drenthe. The De Havixhorst Estate in the Reestdal is particularly special due to its combination of a historic manor house, a Baroque garden and a sculpture park. The Dickninge Estate near Ruinen,Oldengaerde Manor in Dwingeloo and Huize Echten are also among the most characteristic country estates in Drenthe.

These country estates are often situated in a green, unspoilt landscape featuring woods, farmland and ancient watercourses. This makes them not only of cultural and historical value, but also ideal for walking or as a stop on a day trip through the region.

In South-West Drenthe, you can enjoy wonderful walks past several historic country estates and manor houses, particularly in and around the Reestdal near De Wijk, IJhorst and Dwingeloo. One of the best-known walking routes is the De Wijk Country Estates Walking Route (10 km), which takes you past, amongst others, De Havixhorst Estate, De Havixhorst Sculpture Park and Dickninge Estate .

On this route, you’ll walk through a varied landscape of woods, farmland and ancient stream valleys, passing historic sites such as the Reest, the Wieker Meule and old country estate structures along the way. The route clearly illustrates how closely nature, cultural history and aristocratic estates are intertwined here.

You can also go for walks in the region outside this route, for example around Havezate Oldengaerde in Dwingeloo and the surrounding esdorp landscape. Many walks connect to the walking junction network, making it easy to shorten or extend your routes.

Yes, in South-West Drenthe a special cycle route has been mapped out, taking in historic country estates and manor houses. The ‘Fietsbeleefroute Landgoederen en Havezaten’ is a route of approximately 82 kilometres that takes you past, amongst others, De Havixhorst Estate, Oldengaerde Manor and Dickninge Estate.

During the cycle route, you’ll cycle through the Reestdal and past villages with village greens such as Dwingeloo and Ruinen, where the history of the Drenthe nobility and the old administrative landscape is still visible. The route is divided into junctions, allowing you to shorten it or cycle it over several days.

What makes this cycle route special is that you are guided along the way by video clips featuring Diewertje Blok, who tells stories about the country estates and their history. This really brings the landscape and history to life as you cycle.

The route can easily be combined with stops at country estates that are (partly) accessible, such as De Havixhorst with its sculpture park and Oldengaerde in Dwingeloo.

South-West Drenthe has many country estates because the area was historically attractive to the nobility and wealthy families. Its location in the Reestdal, with its fertile soil, waterways and tranquillity, made it ideal for country retreats and manor houses.

From the Middle Ages onwards, noble families settled here and built country estates comprising farmland, woods and farms. Many of these structures have been preserved, meaning that the landscape still retains a distinct historical character.

A ‘havezate’ is a historic country house which, in Drenthe, was inhabited by noble families and often served an administrative function. Ownership of a ‘havezate’ could even confer administrative rights within the region.

Examples of manor houses in South-West Drenthe include Havezate Oldengaerde in Dwingeloo and Huize Echten. Both buildings are still standing and provide a good insight into Drenthe’s aristocratic history.

The television programme *De Verraders* (Videoland editions and Halloween specials) was filmed at the De Havixhorst Estate in Schiphorst (Drenthe). The estate was chosen for the historic charm of the manor house and its secluded location in the Reestdal.

Both the Videoland edition (2021) and the Halloween edition (2022) were filmed here. During filming, the estate served as the central location for the game, where participants stayed and carried out tasks. Nowadays, De Havixhorst can also be visited as a hotel-restaurant and sculpture park.

At De Havixhorst Estate, you can see a historic manor house with a moat, garden and surrounding woodland in the Reestdal. The estate is renowned for its Baroque garden and the De Havixhorst Sculpture Park, where art and nature come together.

The estate is open to the public and combines cultural history with contemporary art. It is also a popular venue for events, walks and dining, making it a versatile destination in South-West Drenthe.

The estate is also home to the Châteauhotel and Restaurant De Havixhorst, where you can stay overnight, dine and attend events. The hotel is designed as a luxury boutique hotel in a historic setting, allowing visitors to experience the atmosphere of the estate in the evenings and at night too.

The restaurant uses local ingredients from the Reestdal and the surrounding area, meaning that a visit is often combined with a culinary experience. As a result, De Havixhorst is not just an estate to explore, but also a place where you can eat, sleep and stay for a longer period.