Havelte

Havelte is situated in the municipality of Westerveld, in the south-west of Drenthe, between Meppel, Diever and Steenwijk. This village with its central green lies on the edge of the Holtingerveld Nature Reserve and close to the Drents-Friese Wold National Park. Thanks to this unique location, Havelte is an ideal base for walks, cycle rides and exploring the rich natural environment and history of Drenthe. From the village, you can reach the famous hunebeds, vast heathlands, forests and drifting sand areas within a few minutes.

Havelte is best known for its two impressive hunebeds, D53 and D54, which are among the largest and best-preserved hunebeds in the Netherlands. In addition, this village with its central green is popular for the Holtingerveld Nature Reserve, where heathland, woods, drifting sand, fens and the Holtinger sheep flock combine to form a varied landscape.

The historic Havelter Molen, the Havelterberg and the many walking and cycling routes also make Havelte a popular destination for nature lovers and active visitors.

Havelte offers a surprisingly diverse range of nature, culture and history. Marvel at the impressive hunebeds, walk or cycle through the Holtingerveld Nature Reserve, or start your visit at the Holtingerveld Gateway, where you ’ll also find the Tourist Information Point for routes and tips on the local area. Along the way, you’ll pass vast heathlands, woods, burial mounds and the Holtinger Sheep Flock, which grazes the nature reserve and thus helps to preserve the landscape.

In summer, it is also a special experience to watch the flock of sheep set off. Every day at around 9.30 am, the flock leaves the sheepfold and heads out onto the heath, returning at around 4.30 pm.

There’s also plenty for families to enjoy. Children can set off on an adventure along the Mammoetspoor or the Kabouterpad.

Lovers of local produce can visit Wijngoed Havelte for a guided tour or wine tasting, whilst sports enthusiasts can enjoy a round of golf on the beautiful course at Golf Club Havelte.

After an active day, you can settle down at one of the cosy cafés and restaurants in and around the village for a cup of coffee, lunch or dinner.

Havelte is one of the few places in the Netherlands where you can visit two impressive hunebeds within a short distance of each other. Hunebed D53 is, after the hunebed near Borger, the largest hunebed in the Netherlands. Hunebed D54 lies just a few hundred metres away.

The hunebeds were built over 5,000 years ago by the Funnel Beaker Culture as burial chambers for their dead. The enormous boulders were stacked on top of one another without the use of modern tools, which is why these structures remain so impressive to this day. Both hunebeds are open to the public free of charge and are among the best-preserved prehistoric monuments in the Netherlands.

The Second World War has left a lasting mark on the landscape around Havelte. In the Holtingerveld Nature Reserve, various traces from this period are still visible. For example, during a walk or cycle ride, you’ll pass old runways, bomb craters and other remnants that serve as a reminder of the war years.

At various locations, information panels provide details about the events that took place here. This adds an extra historical dimension to the landscape and allows you to discover how nature and history are closely intertwined in Havelte.

Special memories from the period following the Second World War have also been preserved. On the Havelterberg, hidden away in the woods near Darp, stands the former watchtower of the American base. This tower formed part of a heavily guarded munitions complex used by American and Dutch military personnel during the Cold War. The base’s buildings have since disappeared, but the watchtower has been preserved as a monument, serving as a reminder of a period when international tensions were also visible in the Drenthe countryside.

During the Second World War, the German occupying forces built a large military airfield near Havelte. To this end, a large part of the landscape was altered and hundreds of hectares of woodland had to make way for runways. The airfield was used by the German air force and was therefore a regular target of Allied bombing raids.

Before the airport was built, Hunebed D53 was also carefully dismantled and buried under a layer of sand to prevent damage. After the war, the hunebed was rebuilt, stone by stone, at its original location. Although the airfield itself has disappeared, parts of the former infrastructure can still be found in the landscape, and the area serves as a tangible reminder of this period in history.

Havelte is an excellent destination for walkers. Dozens of kilometres of walking routes through the Holtingerveld Nature Reserve stretch out around the village. Here, you can walk past heathland, woods, drifting sand, fens, burial mounds and prehistoric monuments such as the hunebeds.

We highly recommend the Havelte Ice Route, a varied 5-kilometre walk through the Holtingerveld. Along the way, you’ll pass the Holtinger sheep flock, hunebeds, burial mounds and visible traces of the Second World War, such as old runways and bomb craters.

It’s also a great destination for families. The Mammoetspoor takes children back to the age of the mammoths, whilst the Kabouterpad is a playful walk through the woods for young children.

Prefer to set off from the village? Several signposted walks start from Piet Soerplein, such as the Old Haovelte Route, Haovelterbargroute, Overcinge Route and Rondtie um de Karke. These routes take you past the village green, historic farmhouses, nature reserves and other special spots in and around Havelte.

Havelte is a popular destination for cyclists. Thanks to the extensive cycle junction network, you can easily plan a route taking in heathland, woods, villages with village greens and historic sights. From Havelte, you can cycle straight through the Holtingerveld, towards the Drents-Friese Wold National Park or past the picturesque villages in the municipality of Westerveld.

A good starting point is the Holtingerveld Gateway, where you’ll find route maps, tips and information about the area at the Tourist Information Point. Along the way, you’ll pass the hunebeds, the Havelterberg, the Holtinger sheep flock and various cafés and restaurants where you can stop for a cup of coffee or lunch.

Havelte is also a popular destination for mountain bikers. The challenging MTB Havelte West and MTB Havelte East routes start from the Holtingerveld Gateway. The western route takes you along technical single tracks and undulating forest paths, whilst the eastern route offers a varied ride through woods, heathland and alongside the Holtingerveld Natura 2000 area. Together, they are among the best-known mountain bike routes in Drenthe.

Whether you’re looking for a hotel, holiday park, motorhome site, bed & breakfast or group accommodation, there are plenty of options for staying overnight in and around Havelte. For example, you can stay at LUDIEK – where dining and sleeping are combined – in one of the comfortable hotel rooms, opt for peace and quiet amidst nature at Jelly’s Hoeve, or enjoy a stay at Mooi Oavelt Holiday Park. Travelling by campervan? Then DarperEs Campervan Site is a great base from which to explore the surrounding area.

Are you coming with family, friends or a larger group? Then De Veurdeale offers charming holiday cottages and spacious group accommodation, surrounded by greenery. Thanks to their central location, all the accommodation options serve as an excellent starting point for walks and cycle rides through the Holtingerveld and Drents-Friese Wold National Park. From your accommodation, you can reach the heathland, the hunebeds or the charming village of Havelte in just a few minutes.

After a walk or cycle ride, you can enjoy a lovely lunch, dinner or a cup of coffee at various spots in and around Havelte. At LUDIEK eten - slapen, you can enjoy surprising dishes with international influences, prepared using seasonal produce and ingredients from their own vegetable garden. The restaurant is also listed in the Gault&Millau restaurant guide.

You’re also welcome at Brasserie OER., next to the Holtingerveld Entrance Gate, for a cup of coffee, lunch or dinner after a visit to the nature reserve. For a hearty lunch, dinner or drinks, head to Café Restaurant 't Knooppunt. Are you visiting the hunebeds? Then Theehuis 't Hunebed is also a lovely spot to stop off for coffee and cake, lunch or a drink.

For example, there’s a suitable place to eat in Havelte for any time of day, whether you’re looking for a full dinner, a cosy lunch or a quick break during your walk or cycle ride.