A landscape of sand, heathland and peat bogs
Between Balinge and Nieuw-Balinge lies the elongated heathland and drifting sand relic of Balinger- en Mantingerzand. The 7.5-kilometre “Dorpsommetje Garminge” walking route also passes through Balinge. This means that a distinct landscape and a specific route through the village offer different focal points for a stay. Balinge’s history also reaches far back: the village was founded in the Middle Ages and first mentioned in 1383.
The drifting sand areas of Balinger- en Mantingerzand are well developed and have pronounced relief, including parabolic dunes. There are also peat bogs covered by blown sand and sandy paths. Heathland, drifting sand, changes in elevation and peatland together define this landscape. Since 2003, Mantingerzand has held the status of a site under the European Habitats Directive and that of a Natura 2000 site. This protection status adds another important aspect to its landscape features.
Higher sandy soils were important for early settlement: Balinge’s first inhabitants settled there amid extensive peat bogs. The account of the settlement site and the landscape’s present-day name can thus be read together, without treating sandy soils and peat bogs as a single type of terrain. Those interested in how settlements developed will find a specific connection here between local history and landscape.
Local history and cultural landscape
Balinge was founded in the Middle Ages as a daughter settlement of Westerbork. The village was first mentioned in 1383, when it was called Bolingen or Balinghe. These two historical forms of the name belong to Balinge’s early written history. The medieval founding and the first mention are two different dates: the founding is placed in the Middle Ages, while 1383 is the year of the first mention.
The surrounding agricultural landscape is also part of the village’s character. Balinge and Garminge share the Garminger- en Balingerstukken complex of arable and pasture land. Alongside heathland and drifting sand, there is this named complex of arable and pasture land, which brings both village names together. If you view Balinge in terms beyond its dunes and sandy paths, you can also consider its cultural landscape as a distinct aspect of the village.
Walking route and historic paths
The “Dorpsommetje Garminge” is a 7.5-kilometre walking route that passes through Balinge. The stated route length gives you a specific reference point for planning your day. At De Pol, the place-name element “pol” refers to the change in elevation and the high-lying location. The name thus reflects a feature of the terrain in the language of the landscape.
Mepscheren was once part of an old route connecting Westerbork, Balinge and Meppen. This historic route should be distinguished from the named walking route: the “Dorpsommetje Garminge” has a specified name, length and course through Balinge, while the route via Mepscheren belongs to the past. If you are weighing up a walking or history-focused visit, each offers a different point of reference: a route with a specific length on the one hand, and a historic connection between several places on the other.
You can therefore tailor your choice of Balinge as a destination to your interests. Balinger- en Mantingerzand is associated with heathland, drifting sand relief, parabolic dunes, peat bogs covered by blown sand and sandy paths. Balinge’s history encompasses its medieval founding, historical forms of its name and early settlement on higher sandy soils. The walking route adds a defined distance through the village to these themes. Depending on whether you want to focus on the landscape, local history or a specific walk, you can discover Balinge from a different perspective.
Discover more destinations: Smilde, Zwiggelte, Spier, Wijster, Beilen, Hooghalen, Drijber, Hoogersmilde
For the broader travel overview: Midden-Drenthe.
