Around Gieten, trails lead through natural areas, while the church, mill and a statue reflect different aspects of the village’s history. The Breevenen nature area, covering more than 250 hectares, lies east of Gieten, Annen and Eext and forms one area with the Zwanemeerbos. This makes for a clear choice when planning your trip: focus on walking and cycling routes, or combine nature trails with a look at the local heritage.
Walking and Cycling Around Gieten
The signposted Dorp en Veld walking route is 13 kilometres long and runs between Gieten and Gasselte. On the Hondsrug, it passes through woodland and heathland. If you want to walk this route, its starting point is about a five-minute walk from either the Spiekersteeg or Brink bus stops in Gieten. These stops and the nearby starting point offer a practical reference for planning the trip.
Another option is a digital walking route of approximately 6.5 kilometres. It follows the dikes around the new nature area along the Hunze. One of the walking routes through Breevenen starts at the Zwanemeer swimming pool near Gieten. The routes differ considerably in length: Dorp en Veld offers a 13-kilometre walk, while the digital route is listed as about 6.5 kilometres. The landscapes described also offer different highlights—woodland and heathland on one route, dikes and the Hunze on the other.
If you prefer to explore by bike, you can follow the route from Gieten to Gieterveen. It crosses the hills of Bonnen and passes through the picturesque hamlet of Veenhof; along the way, it crosses the Hunze. Another route description, Gieten: Hondsrug en Hunze, follows five new nature areas managed by Drentse Landschap. The Hunze winds its way through these areas. The walks and cycle rides can therefore be considered as different kinds of excursions, based on the stated distances, routes and landscapes.
Village Church, Mill and Local Remembrance
The Dorpskerk Gieten and its freestanding tower are both part of the protected architectural heritage: both have been recognised as Rijksmonumenten, or state-protected monuments in the Netherlands, since 1965. Two bell-ringing bells from the 16th century hang in the tower. A medieval church dedicated to Mary once stood on the site. These historical details connect the present-day place of worship with the village’s earlier history.
The Hazewind mill is one of the oldest surviving grain mills in Drenthe. Its ground floor is set up for performances. If you would like to combine a visit with a performance, check the programme and visiting arrangements in advance. This makes the mill not only a point of interest in architectural and technological history, but also a possible cultural feature to include in your trip planning.
The De Dorpssmid statue stands on the site of the former Dijkhuizen smithy and commemorates a nearly extinct profession. Together with the church and mill, it offers a different perspective on Gieten from the routes through natural areas: the focus here is on buildings, their historical uses and the remembrance of a craft.
Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests
When choosing excursions, it helps to keep the differences clear: a signposted 13-kilometre walk through woodland and heathland, a digital route of about 6.5 kilometres along dikes and the Hunze, or a cycle ride that crosses the Hunze. If you are more interested in cultural history, you can consider the Dorpskerk, Hazewind mill and De Dorpssmid statue as separate points of interest. If you are looking for a hotel in Gieten, you can first decide what you would like to do during your stay—without combining walking, cycling and cultural activities into a single tour.
Discover more destinations: Rolde, Nijlande, Anloo, Eexterzandvoort, Schoonloo, Vredenheim, Eext, Gasselte.
To the overview of the wider area: Aa En Hunze.
