The Nijeveense Grift runs through Nijeveen; it is the oldest man-made waterway in Drenthe. It provides the village with a clear geographical reference point. The Sluisje is part of its history; the church, windmill and memorial sites offer further insight into Nijeveen. For your planning, a wide range of route lengths is also available: from three short village circular walks to the approximately 12 km Izakje de Vries walk and the 54 km Route van Geluk. The Tussenboerslanden swimming lake is also located northwest of the rural village.

Circular Walks by Distance

The three short village circular walks are 2 km, 3.5 km and 5 km long. Posts with directional signs mark the green, blue and red routes. At the starting and finishing point by the De Sterrenberg windmill, an information board shows the three circular walks and provides information about various points of interest along the routes. The distances give you a clear basis for choosing the route you want, without assigning the walks a duration that has not been specified.

For a longer walk, consider the Izakje de Vries Route, which is approximately 12 km long. It passes partly through the centre of Nijeveen and by farms in the rural area to the north. At 54 km, the Route van Geluk is on a different scale and is designated as a recreational route. The short village circular walks, the longer walk and the recreational route can therefore be distinguished primarily by their stated distances. As route details may change, it is advisable to check the latest route information before setting out.

Waterway and Local History

The Nijeveense Grift runs across the village. The Sluisje is located in it and served as a lock to regulate water levels until the mid-19th century. The waterway and the lock are thus two related aspects of the village’s history: the Grift remains a geographical reference point to this day, while the Sluisje’s former function highlights water regulation.

The Sint-Barbarakerk was completed as a whole building shortly after 1477. The Barbarakerk in Nijeveen is available for services and other activities of the Protestant Congregation of Nijeveen-Kolderveen-Dinxterveen, as well as for other activities. The De Sterrenberg windmill, meanwhile, came to the Netherlands from Germany in 1977. It uses the techniques of self-tacking and self-furling. The windmill thus connects a specific part of local history—its transport to the Netherlands—with two named technical features.

Memories of Everyday Life and Community

At the De Schalle village community centre, the bronze monument “Boer met melkbussen” commemorates Nijeveen’s history of milk and cheese. The location by the community centre and the monument’s subject point to an aspect of local history distinct from the church’s architectural history and the windmill’s technology.

Photographs also offer a way to explore the village’s history: the Historical Association of Nijeveen has digitised old and new photos of Nijeveen and Kolderveen and made them available in a publicly accessible image archive. The images therefore include two place names and complement the visible buildings and memorials with photographic views from different periods.

The Swimming Lake Northwest of the Village

The Tussenboerslanden swimming lake is located northwest of rural Nijeveen and is also colloquially known as Nijeveense Plas. The lake provides another geographical reference point for navigating between the village centre, the rural area to the north and the cultural points of interest. Together, these topics offer different ways to get your bearings in Nijeveen for a stay: through route distance, the history of the Grift and the village, or the lake’s location.

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