Exloo can be explored through several distinct themes: sheep farming and heathland, scenic routes, and traces of village history and prehistory. Seasonal experiences are especially important when planning a trip; the trails and historic sites offer further points of interest.
Flock of Sheep and Heathland
From April to September, the shepherd takes the flock from the sheep barn to the heathland every day. Visitors can watch or join them for part of the way. Times may change depending on the weather, so check before your visit. The Schaapskudde Exloo keeps around 250 Drenthe Heath Sheep. This rare native breed is considered the oldest sheep breed in mainland Western Europe.
The Exloo Expo exhibition covers the origins of the Schaapskudde, the shepherd’s work, the surrounding area, the issue of wolves and livestock guardian dogs. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., from 1 April to 1 October. Together, they offer two different insights into sheep farming: outside, the flock on its way to the heathland; inside the exhibition, topics relating to the flock, the shepherd and the surrounding area.
Forest, Heathland and Routes
Boswachterij Exloo consists of dense coniferous and deciduous forests, heathland and shifting sands. The signposted Tijdreisroute Leewal also runs through forests, heathland and shifting sands between Exloo and Odoorn. It is 7.5 kilometres long. A continuous cycling route passes through Borger, Exloo, Valthe and Emmen. The two routes can be distinguished by their stated focus: the Leewal route highlights the landscape and distance, while the cycling route passes through several villages.
Village History and Older Traces
The elevated Brink on Hoofdstraat is the village’s best-preserved brink. The small megalithic tomb D30 stands on Bodenpad, towards Ees. It originally had four capstones; three remain today. Pottery shards and prehistoric tools were found in the tomb. Exloo thus brings together different layers of history: the story of the village and its buildings, as well as archaeological evidence from prehistoric times.
The cultural history museum Bebinghehoes is housed in a 1722 longhouse farmhouse. The adjoining sheep barn and coach house are part of the farmhouse museum.
Family Attractions and Seasonal Events
Kabouterland in Exloo is a large playground and also a zoo. In the Hunzebos forest, the approximately two-kilometre-long Sabeltandtijgerspoor is an adventure play trail for children, with climbing, jumping, swinging and balancing. The attractions are clearly different: Kabouterland combines a playground and zoo, while the Sabeltandtijgerspoor is designed as an activity-based trail.
The Exloo Trials are held every summer as an annual sheepdog trial on the open heathland. Oogstdag takes place every year in July or August in a field near the village; the date depends on the weather. Grain is harvested using traditional methods and historic machinery. If you are planning your trip around one of these events, check the current date and programme before making plans.
Choosing When to Visit
The shepherd’s route and the Exloo Expo are both available from April to September; the exhibition is also open until 1 October. The events add another seasonal highlight, with Oogstdag explicitly dependent on the weather. If your main interest is seeing the flock, plan your stay between April and September; for a visit to the exhibition, check its opening days. The scenic routes and historic sites mentioned above complement these seasonal experiences with other points of interest.
Discover more destinations: Drouwen, Klijndijk, Drouwenermond, Valthermond, Odoornerveen, Odoorn, Bronneger, Buinen.
For the regional travel overview: Borger-Odoorn.
