When choosing a destination, Benneveld offers two distinct points of interest: its protected village character and the natural and cultural landscape on the edge of the Westerstroom valley. The village has a spacious, triangular village green and farms dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. There is also an art exhibition across five villages and a walking route through the De Klencke nature area. This gives you the opportunity to discover Benneveld through its architectural history and landscape themes.

Village Character and Farms

Benneveld is designated as a protected village landscape. At the centre, where Bennevelderstraat and Westersteeg meet, is a spacious, triangular village green. Several handsome farms dating from the 18th and 19th centuries stand nearby. These include typical Saxon farmhouses, whose rear sides face the street. For these farms, the construction period, house type and orientation to the street all provide specific clues to local architectural history.

Ovingegoed is located at Bennevelderstraat 18. It is one of the oldest known farms in the former parish of Zweeloo. Together with the farms near the village green, it offers another point of reference for the history of agriculture in Benneveld and the former parish.

Art and Local Tradition

The BuitenExpositie consists of twenty panels featuring reproductions of paintings. They are displayed on the characteristic village greens in Aalden, Benneveld, Meppen, Wezup and Zweeloo. Benneveld is therefore part of an exhibition spanning five villages. Art and village layout come together here as the village’s cultural focus: the panels are displayed on the village greens in each village.

The Boerhoorn is also part of local tradition. Currently, one of the authorised representatives of the Benneveld Boermarke blows the horn before the annual meeting or, on request, at an event. The area’s cultural character thus ranges from the farms and village greens that shape it over time to a custom observed on specific occasions.

Landscape and Ecological Management

Benneveld lies on higher sandy soils at the edge of the Westerstroom valley. This describes the landscape setting; the ecological management of roadside verges, by contrast, concerns a specific form of landscape care. Benneveld switched to this management approach in 2017. It encourages more diverse vegetation: the roadside verges are rich in herbs and provide an attractive habitat for wild bees, butterflies and other insects. Topography and vegetation thus offer two different perspectives on the landscape around the village.

Walking Route and Flock of Sheep

The walking route from Benneveld to Aalden passes through the De Klencke nature area. This is a walking connection with a specific direction, offering a different focus from the historic village landscape. If you would rather focus on a walk than on farm architecture when choosing a destination, this route offers an alternative point of interest.

Schaapskooi Benneveld is stop 11 on the Klenckeroute. The Drenthe Heath sheep of the Schaapskudde Benneveld graze on enclosed pastures and in small nature areas in and around the villages of the former municipality of Zweeloo. This connection to sheep farming complements the local history and walking route with another landscape theme.

Discover more destinations: Stieltjeskanaal, Wezuperbrug, Coevorden, Dalerpeel, Zwinderen, Sleen, Oosterhesselen, Aalden.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Coevorden.