Dwingeloo

Dwingeloo is situated in the municipality of Westerveld, in the south-west of the province of Drenthe. This village with a village green lies on the edge of Dwingelderveld National Park, the largest wet heathland area in Western Europe. Thanks to its central location, Dwingeloo is an ideal base for a day trip or weekend in the countryside. From the village, you can also quickly reach places such as Diever, Ruinen, Meppel and Hoogeveen.

In Dwingeloo, you’ll never be bored for a moment. Take a walk through Dwingelderveld National Park, visit the iconic Dwingeloo Radio Telescope or relax on a terrace on the lively Brink. If you’re travelling with children, a visit to Beleefpark Dwingeloo is highly recommended, where you can swim, climb and play.

Dwingeloo is also an excellent destination for cycling enthusiasts. Various cycle routes start from the village, including the Dwingelderveldroute. This route takes you through the most beautiful parts of Dwingelderveld National Park and was named the most popular cycle route in the Netherlands by Fietsnetwerk.nl.

Fancy an afternoon’s shopping? Then visit Kringloop de Oude Liefde, a popular second-hand and vintage shop where you’ll always find surprising treasures.

In the summer, the Siepeldagen also attract thousands of visitors with a large fair, traditional crafts and activities for young and old.

A visit to Dwingeloo isn’t complete without a stroll across the historic Brink, one of the most beautiful in Drenthe. The Dwingeloo Radio Telescope, a listed building in the heart of the Dwingelderveld, is also well worth a visit. In addition, a walk or cycle ride through Dwingelderveld National Park is a must. Other attractions include the Siepelkerk, so named for its unique shape, and the many charming shops and cafés around the Brink.

Dwingeloo is one of the oldest esdorp villages in Drenthe and was founded as early as the Middle Ages on the higher sandy soils. The village grew up around the characteristic Brink, where residents used to gather and livestock was herded. Over the centuries, Dwingeloo developed into an important village centred on the Brink, surrounded by vast heathlands, woods and ash trees. That historic village layout is still clearly visible today.

The Siepeldagen are held every year during the summer holidays, usually on six Wednesdays in July and August. In 2026, the Siepeldagen will run from 8 July to 26 August. The centre of Dwingeloo will then be transformed into a lively fair with hundreds of stalls, traditional crafts, live music, demonstrations and activities for children. The Siepeldagen are among the largest and best-known summer events in Drenthe and attract thousands of visitors every year.

The Passion 2026 took place in Dwingeloo, in the municipality of Westerveld. The well-known musical Easter event organised by KRO-NCRV was broadcast live on Maundy Thursday from the village’s historic Brink. This meant that not only was Dwingeloo the setting for The Passion for the first time, but the event also took place in a small village for the first time, and in the province of Drenthe for the first time.

Dwingeloo was chosen for its characteristic village green, its close-knit community and its unique setting amidst the vast natural landscape of Dwingelderveld National Park. According to the organisers, Dwingeloo demonstrates that even a small village can serve as a major stage, and the location perfectly aligns with the message of connection that lies at the heart of *The Passion*. Furthermore, the event offered a wonderful opportunity to introduce the whole of the Netherlands to the nature, culture and hospitality of Westerveld and Drenthe.

Yes, Dwingeloo is one of the most beautiful walking destinations in Drenthe. From the village, you can walk straight into Dwingelderveld National Park, where dozens of walking routes wind their way through heathland, woods, small ponds and drifting sand areas. Along the way, you may come across Scottish Highland cattle, Drenthe heath sheep and rare birds.

You can also enjoy lovely short walks in the village itself. Dwingeloo has several walking routes, all of which are named after a planet in our solar system. These include the Dwingeler Ommetje Mars, Uranus, Leda, Jupiter and Pluto. These walks tie in perfectly with the village’s slogan ‘Experience Space’ and introduce you to the nature, history and special places in and around Dwingeloo.

Whether you opt for a short stroll through the village or a longer walk through Dwingelderveld National Park, Dwingeloo offers walking routes for every ability and every season. What’s more, several marked walking routes start from the Brink, so you can set off straight away.

Dwingeloo offers plenty of options for a relaxing stay surrounded by nature. For example, you could choose Hotel Wesseling on the charming Brink, the cosy B&B Ster van Dwingeloo, a pitch at Camping De Bosrand, or a stay at RCN De Noordster on the edge of Dwingelderveld National Park. Whether you choose a hotel, campsite, holiday park or bed & breakfast, from virtually any accommodation you’ll be at the Brink or in the heart of nature within minutes.

Dwingeloo boasts a surprisingly varied range of restaurants and cafés. For a delicious pancake, De Bospub is the place to go . Prefer a more substantial meal? Then Restaurant Onder de Eiken and De Zaagkoele are popular choices. You can also head to ‘t Hof van Dwingeloo for lunch, drinks or dinner. Around the Brink, you’ll also find several cosy outdoor terraces, making Dwingeloo a lovely destination for a culinary stop-off during a day out.

Dwingeloo is one of the best places in the Netherlands for stargazing. Thanks to its location on the edge of Dwingelderveld National Park, there is very little light pollution, meaning it gets properly dark in the evenings. On clear nights, thousands of stars, the Milky Way and, regularly, shooting stars are clearly visible.

This special connection with the cosmos is also reflected in the Dwingeloo Radio Telescope, which has stood on the edge of the Dwingelderveld since 1956. The radio telescope is still used by radio amateurs and volunteers for scientific research and education. It is no coincidence that Dwingeloo’s slogan is ‘Experience Space’: a reference both to the impressive starry sky and to the sweeping landscape, the tranquillity and the sense of space you experience here.