Along the Oude Diep, Drijber reveals itself as a village in a varied landscape. The stream winds past the village; hay meadows, hedgerows and small streamside woods line its banks. Drijber is an esdorp, a village that originated in the early Middle Ages in the valley of the Oude Diep. The Drijberse Es lies south of the village. The stream, valley and es each offer a different point of reference in the landscape.

Hiking, cycling and the VAM-berg

There is both a named walking route and a longer cycling tour in the area around Drijber. The “VAM-berg en het Oude Diep” walking route is five kilometres long. Het Drentse Landschap also offers a cycling route of more than 40 kilometres along the Oude Diep. The distances show two different scales: a five-kilometre walk and a cycling route of more than 40 kilometres.

Two signposted walking trails run over and along the VAM-berg. The first section includes three climbing routes and a descent; together, these routes are 2,100 metres long. The VAM-berg is 48 metres above NAP. The stated route distances therefore range from the 2,100-metre section to the cycling tour of more than 40 kilometres, with the five-kilometre walking route in between.

The development of the VAM-berg is also the subject of an exhibition at De Blinkerd. It explains the transformation from a waste-processing area into a landscape where nature, recreation and sustainability come together.

Village history and culture

Drijber was first mentioned in 1217 under the name Triburd. The Gereformeerde Kerk Drijber, a simple hall church with a small tower, stands on Berkenweg and dates from 1939. The term hall church refers to a plain, hall-like church interior; the small tower complements its uncluttered design. A medieval record of the village name and a 20th-century church building thus provide different historical points of reference.

Another medieval trace is the outlying farmstead (Uithof) that the monastery of Ruinen owned in Drijber. Among other things, it served as accommodation for travelling members of the monastery. Its role as an outlying farmstead is therefore not the only point of interest; it also played a part in the travel and accommodation history of the time.

Since 1980, Drijber has held an annual Spelweek, during which street associations compete against one another. This recurring annual event sits alongside the village’s historical names and buildings.

In the village and surrounding area

Natuurijsbaan Drijber is in the middle of the village, while the named walking and cycling routes and the VAM-berg are in the surrounding area. This distinction helps with planning: you can treat village sights and tours in the surrounding area as separate points of focus.

When natural ice conditions are suitable, Natuurijsbaan invites you to skate a few laps. As this activity depends on natural ice, check that suitable natural ice is available before planning a visit.

If you are looking for a hotel in Drijber, consider beforehand whether the landscape and its routes or the village’s history should be the focus of your stay. This lets you tailor your search to your travel interests.

Discover more destinations: Hoogersmilde, Mantinge, Spier, Wijster, Smilde, Hijken, Beilen, Westerbork.

For the broader travel overview: Midden-Drenthe.