Drents-Friese Wold National Park

There is plenty to do all year round in the Drents-Friese Wold National Park. You can go for walks through vast forests, cycle along peaceful paths, explore heathland and enjoy the varied natural landscape. Thanks to its many walking and cycling routes, the nature reserve is a popular destination for a day out in South-West Drenthe.

The visitor centre also regularly organises activities for all ages. These include a forest safari with the forest ranger, a water wildlife safari, an insect safari or a guided walk where you can learn more about the unique plants and animals that live in the area. For children, there are also treasure hunts and special nature activities, making a visit to the Drents-Friese Wold a great family day out.

One of the best-known spots in the national park is the Aekingerzand, also known as the Kale Duinen. Together with the woods and heathland, this vast area of shifting sand dunes forms a unique landscape that you can experience in a different way in every season.

The Drents-Friese Wold offers walking routes for both leisure walkers and adventurous nature lovers. A popular route is the 8.3-kilometre walk starting from Diever. This varied walk takes you through woods, past crowberry heathland, damp meadows with hedgerows and a forest pool. Along the way, you’ll also pass a hiding place for people in hiding and enjoy the peace and variety that make the national park so special.

If you’re looking for an adventurous walk, you can opt for the route through the Tilgrup Valley. This rugged area is criss-crossed by a meandering stream and takes you along narrow paths, little bridges and several boardwalks. At times, you’ll cross the water via wooden footbridges and walk through a landscape where nature is given free rein. It is precisely this variety that makes this walk a favourite among nature lovers.

Another special boardwalk can be found at the Albertaplas. This wooden path runs close to the water and through the woods and has been built to allow visitors to enjoy the area even during wetter periods. Along the route there is a viewing screen from which you can observe birds and other animals without disturbing them.

Yes, the Drents-Friese Wold is a popular destination for families with children. There are various short walking routes and nature activities where children can discover nature through play. One of the best-known children’s activities is the Kabouterpad at the Buitencentrum Drents-Friese Wold.

Wearing a gnome’s hat and carrying a rucksack full of tasks, children aged 3 to 6 set off in search of gnome tracks in the woods. Along the way, they follow a route of about 1.5 kilometres past gnome posts, listen to stories and carry out fun tasks. They might even come across a real gnome along the way.

As well as the Kabouterpad, the visitor centre also organises regular activities such as a forest safari, a water wildlife safari or an insect safari. This makes the Drents-Friese Wold a great destination for a day out with children in South-West Drenthe.

The Drents-Friese Wold National Park is one of the largest contiguous nature reserves in the Netherlands. The area covers over 6,000 hectares and consists of forests, heathland, stream valley grasslands and sand drifts. Thanks to the varied landscape, every visit is a different experience.

Yes, there are plenty of places to stay around the Drents-Friese Wold National Park, right on the edge of the countryside. Here you’ll find small-scale campsites, B&Bs, group accommodation and holiday homes in and around villages such as Diever, Doldersum, Boschoord, Oude Willem and Appelscha.

Many accommodation options are literally right next to the national park, meaning you can walk or cycle straight into the woods from your accommodation. Popular options include nature campsites on the edge of the woods, group accommodation for families and comfortable holiday homes surrounded by greenery.

Drents-Friese Wold National Park boasts a number of highly varied and well-known nature reserves that are definitely not to be missed. One of the most impressive spots is the Bosberg Tower in Appelscha, where you can enjoy sweeping views of forests and sand drifts from the observation tower.

The Doldersummerveld is also a special place. It features a viewing tower from which you can look out over vast heathland and a truly tranquil area where you can often spot roe deer and rare birds.

Another well-known spot is the Aekingerzand, also known as the Kale Duinen. This is a large area of shifting sand dunes where the landscape is constantly changing due to the wind and natural forces, making it one of the most unique places in the national park.

The most beautiful cycle route in the Drents-Friese Wold National Park is the Drents-Friese Woud Route (46 km). This signposted route allows you to experience the national park in a varied way. You’ll cycle through vast forests, past heathland, sand drifts and stream valleys. Along the way, you’ll pass through areas such as Berkenheuvel, Boschoord, the Doldersummerveld and the Aekingerzand (Kale Duinen), and you’ll also pass through various villages such as Appelscha.

Another lovely route is the Heerlijk Dieveren route ( 39 km). This tour combines nature with culture and takes you past villages such as Vledder, Wapse, Diever, Wateren, Zorgvlied and Boschoord. Here, you’ll experience a mix of woodland, cultural history and unspoilt countryside.

If you’re looking for a more immersive experience with stops along the way, the Diever Terrace Route (35 km) is a great choice. This route combines nature with restaurants, cafés and places of interest in and around Diever and the Drents-Friese Wold.

Yes, the Drents-Friese Wold National Park is one of the most popular mountain biking areas in the northern Netherlands. The area has an official 23-kilometre MTB route, the MTB Diever-Hoogersmilde. This route runs through vast forests and consists of single tracks, fast forest trails, technical bends and short climbs.

Along the way, you’ll ride through varied terrain featuring sand, woodland and open stretches, making the route both challenging and fun. The natural terrain and variety make the area suitable for both recreational mountain bikers and more experienced riders.

The route starts and ends in Diever and can easily be combined with other cycle routes in the Drents-Friese Wold area.

Yes, in the Drents-Friese Wold National Park, you are permitted to go horse riding and carriage driving on specially designated riding and carriage routes. These routes are spread throughout the area and take you through woods, heathland and sand drifts, allowing you to experience the national park in a peaceful and natural way on horseback.

There are several marked routes in different colours and of varying distances, such as routes around Diever, Doldersum, Appelscha and Hoogersmilde. The routes have been specially designed for horse riders and carriage drivers, ensuring that enjoying nature and safety go hand in hand with other recreational users in the area.