Meppen can be explored from two perspectives: as a monumental farming village with farms and monuments, and as a place bordering the De Mepperdennen forest and the De Palms juniper heath. Historic traces range from an Iron Age urnfield to a monument unveiled in 1998. The “Meppen: De Palms” walking route is 3.5 km long. The Frensenhoes, in turn, tells the story of local craftsmanship and is the starting point of the Cultuurpad Coevorden: Meppen–Gees.

Farms and the history of the farming village

Meppen is a monumental farming village. The De Prakkehof farm dates from 1699; the farm at Middendorpsstraat 2 is a Rijksmonument. A farm belonging to Gerwin and Melissa Tiems is described as the oldest farm in Drenthe. These examples highlight different aspects: De Prakkehof is associated with a specific year of construction, the farm at Middendorpsstraat with its monument status, and Gerwin and Melissa Tiems’ farm with a distinctive designation. This makes it possible to distinguish between different aspects of the history of the farms, rather than reducing it to a single year.

Archaeology and remembrance

Molenes broadens the picture to a much earlier period: the Iron Age urnfield dates from 700–500 BC and is protected as a Rijksmonument. On Katspad in Meppen, a monument commemorating Rozetta and Meijer Kats was unveiled on 31 July 1998. The two places thus represent different historical layers: a protected archaeological site and a memorial with a precisely dated unveiling. The dedication to Rozetta and Meijer Kats is as much a part of understanding the monument as its location on Katspad.

The Frensenhoes and its craft heritage

The Frensenhoes was built in 1916 as a carpentry workshop on the present-day property at De Kockstraat 3 in Meppen. The machinery remains as it was installed in the 1920s. This distinguishes the workshop’s origins from the later installation of the machinery. Group tours with demonstrations are available by appointment; confirm the details before your trip. The Cultuurpad Coevorden: Meppen–Gees also starts at the Frensenhoes, at Burgemeester De Kockstraat 3. If you are interested in a tour, you can take this starting point into account when planning your day, without assuming a particular duration for the route.

De Mepperdennen, De Palms and the trails

Meppen borders the De Mepperdennen forest and the De Palms juniper heath. Juniper shrubs as large as those in De Palms are now rarely found in the Netherlands. For a walking activity, the “Meppen: De Palms” route offers a specific distance of 3.5 km. Check the latest route information before setting out. The Cultuurpad Coevorden: Meppen–Gees offers a different planning focus: its starting point is the Frensenhoes. This means a walking route with a stated distance and a cultural trail with a named starting point offer different options for planning your day.

Meppen as a starting point for your accommodation search

When searching for a hotel in Meppen, you can first decide which of these themes matter to you during your stay. For the Frensenhoes, bear in mind that group tours with demonstrations are by appointment. If you mainly want to explore on foot, you can factor the walking route’s distance into your plans and check the latest route information.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Aalden, Dalen, Wachtum, Gees, Coevorden, Sleen, Dalerpeel, Wezuperbrug.

For the main travel overview: Coevorden.