Vredenheim is a young hamlet along the road of the same name, northwest of Grolloo. The area still has a distinctly agricultural character. The road through Vredenheim runs partly through the Westerveld arable and pastureland complex. East of Vredenheim, it becomes Hogeveldweg. This road runs alongside Rolderveld, a partly cultivated heathland area, towards Papenvoort. The description of the area thus connects the hamlet’s agricultural character with two distinct landscape features: Westerveld is an arable and pastureland complex, while Rolderveld is a partly cultivated heathland area.

Cycling from Grolloo through Vredenheim to Amen

The Grolloo-Doortraproute is 25 kilometres long. It starts at the car park by Landgoed De Berenkuil campsite, De Pol 15 in Grolloo. From there, the route passes through Vredenheim and continues to the small esdorp of Amen. The starting point, place along the route and destination are clearly distinct: Grolloo is the starting point, Vredenheim lies along the route, and Amen is the destination. The sequence of places shows Vredenheim’s role in the route without conflating the hamlet with its starting or ending point.

Farms and building history

One specific building of note is the farmhouse at Vredenheim 5. It was built in 1880 and has a hipped gable roof covered with tiles, as well as a chimney. This identifies both its year of construction and several features of its design. The place name also appears several times in the history of the farms: four farmhouses all bore the name “Vredenheim.” This shared name links the hamlet’s name with several farms, whereas the architectural features of Vredenheim 5 belong to a single building.

Walking through nature and along hedgerows

A 2022 guide describes the Grolloo Field and Es Walking Route. After crossing the Grolloo–Rolde road, it leads into the hamlet of Vredenheim. The walk passes through a nature area where the owner of De Berenkuil campsite has created a route with several information boards. It then continues past old hedgerows to the gate of De Berenkuil; through the gate, you can follow the Westerveldroute. Nature, hedgerows and the onward route shape the experience of this walk. The Grolloo-Doortraproute, by contrast, is defined by its length and the sequence Grolloo–Vredenheim–Amen.

Traces of different eras and local landmarks

Archaeological finds from the Late Stone Age in the area around Vredenheim suggest that people were living there before the Common Era. Another historical connection dates to the days before Grolloo was liberated on 12 April: French paratroopers landed at various locations in Drenthe, including the area between Kamp Westerbork and Grolloo, from Halkenbroeken to Vredenheim. A farmhouse belonging to the Ter Steege family also stood in a field near Vredenheim.

The locations around Vredenheim can also be described precisely. The large recreational area De Berenkuil lies between Vredenheim, Amerweg and Rolderstraat. Between Vredenheim and Grolloo, at Vredenheimseweg 9, is Iemenhoeve, a care farm and campsite. De Berenkuil features both in the cycling route and in the description of the walking route; Iemenhoeve is a separate local landmark. Routes, the history of the hamlet and named places thus offer distinct aspects to consider when planning a trip.

Discover more destinations: Grolloo, Annen, Nieuwediep, Gasselte, Schoonloo, Gasselternijveen, Papenvoort, Gieten.

For the broader travel overview: Aa En Hunze.