Heath loop through the Odoorn forest
8.5 km · 2h 10m · Easy
Region
Drenthe
Megaliths, purple heath and the widest skies in the Netherlands.
Drenthe is a region of peace, space and unspoiled nature. Vast heathlands, ancient forests and impressive dolmens create the setting for one of the most beautiful areas in the Netherlands. It is a destination where visitors can slow down, reconnect with nature and enjoy the beauty of the countryside.
Explore Dwingelderveld National Park, cycle across the Hondsrug or discover charming villages and historic landmarks. Whether you're looking for an active getaway, a romantic escape or simply a relaxing stay surrounded by nature, Drenthe offers a memorable experience throughout the year.
Highlights
Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark
The first UNESCO Global Geopark in the Netherlands (since 2015): an ice age landscape of ridges, valleys and boulders to discover on foot and by bike.
Dolmens of the Hondsrug
Most of the Netherlands' fifty-odd dolmens lie on the Hondsrug. Around Odoorn and Valthe you find them along the sandy paths in the landscape.
Boswachterij Odoorn forest
Pine woods and open heath within walking distance of the village, with the Schapenpark as a peaceful base for walking and cycling.
The Ellertsveld and the giants' saga
The field where the saga of the robber giants Ellert and Brammert is set; in Schoonoord the open-air museum of the same name tells of old Drenthe farming life.
Few regions have stayed as unspoilt as Drenthe. Purple heaths, forestry plantations and moorland pools alternate, with old villages around their greens and hunebedden — megalithic tombs — standing as silent witnesses to five thousand years of history. In the evening it truly grows dark here — one of the few places in the Netherlands with a starry sky to fall quiet under.
It is no surprise that Drenthe is the cycling province par excellence. Along cycle paths and sandy tracks you travel through heath and wood and past moorland pools, from megalithic tomb to forestry. Walkers find endless paths and, at dusk, flocks of sheep returning to the fold. Being outdoors is the whole programme here.
Drenthe is down-to-earth and honest. What the land and the forest give comes straight to the table — regional produce, game from the area and a seasonal kitchen without frills. After a day in the open air, that is exactly what tastes good.
Hotel De Oringer Marke in Drenthe, near Odoorn, is your quiet home base: between heath and megalithic tombs, with the silence and the space at your doorstep. Generous in feeling, personal in experience — and Drenthe begins where your hotel leaves off.
Explore the region
Frequently asked questions
What makes the Hondsrug so special?
The Hondsrug is a sand ridge shaped by the ice and, since 2015, the first UNESCO Global Geopark in the Netherlands. Its ice age landscape, dolmens and thousands of years of habitation all come together here.
Can I visit dolmens from Odoorn?
Yes. Around Odoorn and neighbouring Valthe, dolmens lie along the sandy paths in the landscape. For the full story, drive on to the Hunebedcentrum in Borger.
Is Drenthe suitable for cycling with the whole family?
Certainly. The fine-meshed network of cycling nodes lets you build your own route, as short or long as you like, past heath, woods and the esdorp villages around Odoorn.
When does the heather turn purple?
The heather usually blooms in August, when the fields around the forest turn purple. Bear in mind that the flowering can vary from year to year and with the weather.
