Eleven megalithic tombs give a cycling tour a distinctive sense of discovery: the 38.4-kilometre “Steengoed Rondje” passes them as it runs through the municipality of Aa en Hunze. This combines being on the move with a tangible glimpse into the past. Other routes focus on different things, from rural businesses to mills and churches. On foot, too, you can see the changing landscape of streams, heathland and visible traces of earlier land use.
Cycling routes with different discoveries
The 26-kilometre “Aanstreekelijk Aa en Hunze – route 2” cycling route passes apiaries, farm shops, the largest flock of sheep and a milk vending station. Its listed stops give it a different character from the “Steengoed Rondje”, whose distinctive landmark is the megalithic tombs. Individual stops may change, so check the route information before setting off.
Fruitbedrijf en Landwinkel de Marwijkshof offers regional produce, a pick-your-own garden, a corn maze and a terrace. If you would like to include this business in your day-trip plans, check the visitor information before you go. This lets you combine an interest in regional produce with the municipality’s natural and cultural attractions, without every cycling tour having to focus on the same things.
“Langs Torens en Wieken” offers a choice of two cycling routes, each around 50 kilometres long. They pass various mills and churches, including the centuries-old Magnuskerk in Anloo. The approximate distance helps you choose between shorter and longer tours, while the buildings add a cultural highlight along the way.
On foot: streams and historic paths
Anloo is the starting point for two hiking trails of different lengths: the “Anlooër Diepje” trail is 11 kilometres long, while “Strubben Kniphorstbosch” is 9 kilometres. A hike along the Anloërdiepje starts and ends in Anloo; it follows easily walkable paths along the western and eastern banks. The two stated distances provide a clear comparison if you want to choose a hike by length.
The “Langs de Aa en de strubben” route follows the Drentsche Aa and the unspoilt Anlooërdiep, and also passes through De Strubben and Kniphorstbosch. Along the way are megalithic tombs, burial mounds and the oldest church in Drenthe. Nature and cultural traces meet along this route, without a single viewpoint having to define the entire outing.
A shorter hiking option starts at the “Huis van de Drentsche Aa”, also known as Bistro Aa, in Deurze: the route is 2.3 kilometres long and passes the Aardkundig Monument. The Drentsche Aa stream system has Aardkundig Monument status at the Deurzerdiep in the municipality of Aa en Hunze. The route combines a manageable distance with a geological feature of the landscape.
Heathland, stream landscapes and nature
Balloërveld is a heathland area in Aa en Hunze with moorland pools, pine forest and small areas of drifting sand. As well as extensive sand and heathland, you can also see burial mounds and medieval cart tracks. The landscape can be explored not only through its natural features, but also through surviving traces of earlier land use. A flock of sheep accompanied by a shepherd can be found on Balloërveld daily, though their presence may vary.
“Duunsche Landen” also combines landscape with geological interest: it is one of the 85 hotspots in the De Hondsrug Geopark. The deflation hollow is the largest in Drenthe, measuring more than a kilometre in diameter. The surrounding natural landscape provides habitat for badgers, beavers, round-leaved bellflowers and cat’s-foot. The stated dimensions give a sense of the scale of the landscape, while the animal and plant species mentioned offer a further glimpse of its diversity.
Gasselterveld in the municipality of Aa en Hunze is open for day recreation and to the public from sunrise to sunset. Access rules may change seasonally or for safety reasons, so check the current rules before your visit. At the municipal level, the landscape also includes extensive forests and heathland, with opportunities for hiking, cycling and water-based recreation.
A broader landscape setting
The UNESCO Global Geopark De Hondsrug stretches across the provinces of Drenthe and Groningen. Aa en Hunze is one of its seven municipalities; the stream valleys of the Drentsche Aa and the Hunze are also part of the geopark. Smart Owl information points in Aa en Hunze provide local information about businesses, hiking, cycling and horse-riding routes, as well as places of tourist interest, Nationaal Park Drentsche Aa and the Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark.
Discover more destinations: Eext, Eexterzandvoort, Gasselte, Grolloo, Nieuwediep, Schoonloo, Gasselternijveen, Anderen, Nooitgedacht, Vredenheim, Rolde, Gieten, Anloo, Annen, Nijlande, Balloo, Papenvoort, Gieterveen.
For the main travel overview: Drenthe.
