October: Children’s Month
October is all about exploring, getting stuck in and having fun! During Children’s Month in October, there are plenty of fun activities in South-West Drenthe for children aged 4 to 13. From exciting treasure hunts and creative workshops to performances, museums and outdoor activities.
On this page, you’ll find the activities organised in Westerveld, De Wolden, Meppel and Hoogeveen. Many activities are free, though you may need to book in advance for some. See what’s on in your area and plan a fun day out!
Discover the programme:
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Sing along!
Every Monday | 5.00–6.30 pm
Do you love singing? Join the De Vuurvliegjes children’s choir and discover how much fun it is to sing together. Learn new songs, sing with other children and let your voice be heard. No experience is needed – everyone is welcome!
Venue: Dorpshuis de Veldkei, Veldkamp 77, Havelte
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How do you catch a windmill?
Every Saturday | 9.30 am–1.00 pm
Discover how a real windmill works during a guided tour of Molen de Zaandplatte. The miller will explain how to ‘catch’ a windmill and let you grind grain yourself. Afterwards, try to find the fifteen hidden proverbs on the colouring page!
Venue: Molen de Zaandplatte, Engeland 9, Ruinen
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Make a string of candles
Every Saturday and Sunday | 10.00–16.00
Make your own colourful string candle! Choose ten wax shapes, thread them onto a wick and, under supervision, dip the candle into liquid wax. You’ll go home with a homemade candle made from recycled wax.
Location: Het Tweede Lichtje Candle Workshop, Weerwille 2a, Ruinerwold
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Watching, colouring and a bit of a scare
Every Saturday and Sunday | 1.00 pm–5.00 pm
Discover the Stedelijk Museum Meppel with a fun treasure hunt featuring art, silver treasures and theatre puppets. Afterwards, you can get creative yourself: turn a colouring picture into your own work of art and let your imagination run wild!
Venue: Stedelijk Museum Meppel, Kromme Elleboog 59, Meppel
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Discover the World of OERRR
Every Saturday and Sunday | 10.00–15.00
Go on a treasure hunt through the Dwingelderveld! Discover what’s going on around the visitor centre, look for aquatic creatures and answer all sorts of questions. With the right answers, you’ll crack the code and find out what’s inside OERRR’s treasure chest.
Location: Dwingelderveld Visitor Centre, Benderse 22, Ruinen
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Visit De Proefkolonie
Every Sunday | 10.00–17.00
Step back in time and discover how people used to live in the Colonies of Benevolence. Visit the museum, the little school, the colony cottage and the historic tram depot. Dress up as a colonist family and have your photo taken together!
Venue: Museum De Proefkolonie, Majoor van Swietenlaan 1a, Frederiksoord
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Make your own seashell lantern
Every Sunday | 1.00 pm–5.00 pm
Get creative at the Maritime Museum and make your own lantern from shells. Decorate a small jar with shells, beads and stickers, and discover how beautifully the candlelight shines through the shells.
Venue: Miramar Maritime Museum, Vledderweg 25, Vledder
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Children’s Day at the windmill
3 October | 1.00–4.00 pm
Discover what goes on inside a real windmill. Have a look around, lend the miller a hand and bake biscuits or decorate bread dough figures. You can also have your face painted, do some colouring and, of course, sample some poffertjes.
Venue: Molen de Weert, Weerdstraat 80, Meppel
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Meule Experience Morning
3 October | 9.00 am–12.00 pm
Join a miller to find out how a windmill works. Watch the sails turn, learn how grain is ground and then have fun playing and doing crafts. Of course, there’ll be pancakes on offer too. A morning full of discovery, activities and tasty treats!
Location: Meule van Wassens, Molenstraat 12, Zuidwolde
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Pear Tree Auction
3 October | from 9.00 am
How does a real auction work? Find out at the pear tree auction along Dokter Larijweg. Listen to the auctioneer, place a bid yourself and who knows – you might even get to pick stewing pears from your very own pear tree afterwards!
Location: De Karstenhoeve Museum Farm, Dokter Larijweg 172, Ruinerwold/Oosteinde
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Parent-child circus
3 October | 1.30–3.30 pm
Discover just how much fun the circus is with your parent! During this workshop, you’ll get to try your hand at juggling and acrobatics, learn the basics of various circus acts and play all sorts of circus games together.
Venue: Circus Okidoki, Loberingemaat 6, Meppel
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An adventure with underwater creatures
3 and 4 October | 2.00–3.30 pm
Dive into the world of the sea! After a story about extraordinary underwater animals and plants, you’ll get stuck in yourself with paint and stencils. Create a colourful painting on wood and let your imagination run wild.
Venue: Atelier de Tuin van Heden, Sportlaan 22, Hoogeveen
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Colour in your lamb
3 and 31 October | 2.00–3.30 pm
Colour your own little lamb using wool and a felting needle. During this creative workshop, you’ll discover how felting works and, with guidance, create a cheerful piece of art. Mr Mouse will of course be there to keep you company too!
Venue: ‘Kracht van Kunst’ Exhibition Studio, Kloosterstraat 10, Ruinen
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Open Day at ASTRON
4 October | 12.00–16.00
Step into the world of radio astronomy! Take a look at the telescope, discover how scientists explore space and see where new telescopes are being built in Dwingeloo. Take part in various activities and get a taste of science and research for yourself.
Venue: ASTRON, Oude Hoogeveensedijk 4, Dwingeloo
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Shadow Flight
4 October | 2.00–3.00 pm
Let yourself be swept away by the story of a girl who loses her family in the darkness. The young performers of Circus Okidoki bring this thrilling story to life with circus acts, acrobatics and theatre.
Venue: Circus Okidoki, Loberingemaat 6, Meppel
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Treks, crafts, handcart races and more
11 and 12 October | 1.30 pm–4.30 pm
Go on a discovery tour at Museum De Wemme with a treasure hunt on a tablet and test your knowledge during the Electricity Game. Make a fun craft, bake a treat and take part in a proper Dutch handcart race!
Venue: Museum De Wemme, Burg. Tonckensstraat 49, Zuidwolde
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Discover, do and learn!
12 and 24 October | 1.00–3.00 pm
Get hands-on in the Discovery Corner and find out how technology and science work. Build a little boat, make crisps from a potato, experiment with water and learn how to make your own soap.
Location: Ontdekhoek Hoogeveen, Willemskade 27, Hoogeveen
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Puppet show on the Groenmarkt
16 and 17 October | 12.30–1.00 pm and 2.30–3.00 pm
Jan Klaassen and Katrijn are coming to Meppel especially for the occasion! Watch their adventures in the famous puppet theatre on the Groenmarkt and meet the many colourful characters who come together to put on a cheerful show.
Venue: Puppet International, Groenmarkt, Meppel
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Autumn Art Workshop
17 October | 9.30–11.30 am
Get creative with autumn materials such as leaves, twigs and flowers. Make a suncatcher or a bunting, whilst discovering animal tracks, mushrooms and tiny creepy-crawlies. Examine them under a microscope and turn them into your own work of art.
Location: Zuidwolde Nature Society at Buningshof, Middelveenseweg 13A, Zuidwolde
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Making and spotting bats
18 October | 12.00–16.00
Discover the secrets of bats and learn how they find their way in the dark and what they eat. See a real bat, enjoy a puppet show and make your own bat.
Location: IVN Westerveld at the IVN stall for Boslounge Spier, Oude Postweg 12, Spier
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Music in the mix
24 October | 10.00–16.00
Are you aged 10 or over and mad about music? Bring your instrument or show off your singing talent during this musical day. Play pop, rock or jazz together and meet other young musicians. Who knows, you might even form a new band!
Venue: De Proef, Majoor van Swietenlaan 15, Frederiksoord
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Children’s Theatre Festival
25 October
Enjoy a day full of theatre at De Tamboer! Watch two performances, take the ‘Ode to Imagination’ theatrical tour and discover the ‘Workshop for the Imagination’. You’ll need a ticket for the performances; tours and workshops are free.
Venue: Theater De Tamboer, Hoofdstraat 17, Hoogeveen
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Experience BLINK Day at De Plataan
31 October | 1.30–3.30 pm
Try out different art forms during this creative afternoon. Make music, sing along, dance, take part in a visual arts workshop or step into the theatre. Watch performances, join an open class and discover what suits you best!
Venue: BLINK Art Collective in De Plataan, Vledderstraat 3F, Meppel