Mantinge is an esdorp, a village whose history dates back to the Middle Ages. When choosing a destination, it is also worth looking at the landscapes nearby: south of the village, the Jeneverbesroute Mantingerveld passes through several small heathland areas, while the centuries-old Mantingerbos lies to the north. This means that both heathland and ancient woodland feature prominently in the surrounding landscape.
Heathland, moorland pools and juniper
Between the villages of Mantinge and Nieuw-Balinge lies the Mantingerzand, consisting mostly of heathland, moorland pools and forests, as well as a few small areas of shifting sand. The pools provide a habitat for amphibians, insects and plants. This means the landscape can be appreciated not only through its open heathland but also through its wetland areas. Hundreds of juniper shrubs grow in the Mantingerzand; it has been managed as a juniper reserve since 1970.
One named landmark is the old Scots pine “De oude den”: it is more than 100 years old. The juniper population, the reserve’s history and this single old tree offer different points of reference if you would like to get to know nature through specific features during your stay.
Landforms around Mantinge
The “Dekzand- en stuifzandrug Mantinge-Nieuw Balinge” landscape ridge also has a clearly described form: visible cover-sand landforms with long cover-sand ridges sit alongside a relatively well-preserved shifting-sand landform with deflation hollows. These geological features add another dimension to the view of the heathland, juniper and forest: the shape of the land itself. For travellers interested in landforms, this offers a distinct way to explore the area.
Ancient woodland and a larger heathland area
The Mantingerbos is a centuries-old forest north of Mantinge and also a 46-hectare Natura 2000 site. The forest complex is a remnant of a once larger primeval forest. It has one of the oldest undisturbed forest soils in Drenthe and an oak forest unique to Drenthe, strongly characterised by holly. In contrast to the Mantingerzand, with its heathland and juniper areas, the focus here is on forest history and the distinctive oak forest. This lets you compare two different landscape themes.
The name Mantingerveld refers to a larger landscape project: Natuurmonumenten has been working for 25 years to connect four small nature reserves north of Hoogeveen into one large, continuous heathland landscape. This is a different scale from visiting a single forest or heathland area; the focus here is on the connections between several natural areas.
Walking route or cycling route
For a walk, the Jeneverbesroute Mantingerveld offers a clear route to follow. It starts at the Natuurmonumenten car park on Mantingerdijk and is marked with white route arrows. The route passes through several small heathland areas south of Mantinge. Its starting point, markers and landscape focus give you useful points of reference when planning a walk as part of your stay.
For cycling, there is the “Fietsroute natuur bij Mantinge”: it passes through three nature reserves in Drenthe and is 72 kilometres long. The two routes therefore differ in activity and stated distance: one is a marked walking route through small heathland areas, while the other is a 72-kilometre cycling route through three nature reserves. You can first decide what kind of activity and landscape you would like to shape your stay.
Discover more destinations: Hooghalen, Spier, Beilen, Westerbork, Zwiggelte, Wijster, Elp, Orvelte
For the broader travel overview: Midden-Drenthe.
