Gasselternijveen is a destination for travellers who want to combine local history with time outdoors. The history of shipyards and shipping can be traced through specific dates; there is also a ten-kilometre walking route, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool and views of the Oude Weer. The church, Damklok and Reiling Hoeve offer further cultural and historical perspectives.
Shipyards, shipping and industry
The first shipyard was established in 1849, and a second was added in 1861. In 1913, Gasselternijveen was the fourth-largest seaport in the Netherlands by the number of ships registered there. This ranking referred to the number of ships, not their tonnage. Two forms of historical context therefore come together: the development of the shipyards over time and a later comparison based on ship numbers.
The potato starch factory Oostermoer is also part of the industrial history. It opened in 1903 on the eastern side of Gasselternijveen. Together with the shipyards, it points to another historical economic activity alongside shipbuilding: processing potatoes into starch.
Village landmarks and local history
The Protestant church in Gasselternijveen contains a protected organ by Van Oeckelen, dating from 1900. The Damklok on the Dam dates from 1931; the village’s residents donated it to the municipality. One is an instrument in the church building, the other a clock on the Dam—two distinct points of reference in the village’s history.
The Reiling Hoeve also connects a present-day attraction with local history. At Baptistenkade 32 in Gasselternijveen, it is a coffee and tea house serving homemade treats. Roelof Reiling, who lived at the Reiling Hoeve, was one of the first seven people to be baptised in the Netherlands in 1845. This means the house’s name can also be linked to a person and a precisely dated period in local religious history. Check the coffee and tea house’s visiting arrangements before your arrival.
The Hunze landscape and outdoor activities
As a landscape highlight, De Juffer stands apart from the village landmarks: the mill is just outside Gasselternijveen on the Hunze and offers views of the Oude Weer. The stream area was created and restored in 2014. The date makes the restoration tangible as part of the more recent history of the landscape.
The Dorpswandeling Gasselternijveen is a ten-kilometre walking route. This makes it a clearly defined option for anyone wishing to include a walk in their stay. There is also an outdoor swimming pool in Hunzepark, where you can swim outdoors between May and September. The two activities differ in how they can be planned: the route has a specified distance, while swimming has a specified season. Check the outdoor pool’s current season before your trip.
Exploring the municipality
Those who want to complement their local travel planning with a broader view of the municipality can use the Digital Heritage Atlas Aa en Hunze. It provides access to the municipality’s cultural and historical landscape and diverse cultural heritage through map and thematic layers.
Discover more destinations: Anderen, Nieuwediep, Vredenheim, Eext, Eexterzandvoort, Annen, Gasselte, Anloo.
Go to the overview of the wider area: Aa En Hunze.
