In Spier, things to explore range from the forests of Dwingelderveld to memorial sites and historic architecture. When planning your visit, it is worth first considering whether you would rather get around on foot or by bicycle, and which aspects of local history you would like to learn more about.

Forest and trails in Dwingelderveld

Natuurpoort Spier is the gateway to Dwingelderveld National Park, with various cycling and walking routes starting there. The park’s location also helps you get your bearings: the extensive nature reserve begins on the other side of the highway from Spier. A former area of drifting sand was planted with trees in the early 20th century, creating a landscape of forest, heathland and moorland lakes.

The “Boswandeling Spier” is a 5.5-kilometre walking route through a forest in Dwingelderveld. The forest was planted from 1925 onwards. The route offers a concrete impression of how the forest landscape there was shaped. The “Buiten Bereik Route: Spier” offers a different perspective on the national park, passing through Dwingelderveld. One of its distinctive features is the “Zinzitter”: at this seating spot, you can sit for a while and do nothing.

If you prefer to get around by bicycle, the “Fietsroute Dwingelderveld (Audioroute)” is another option. It starts at the visitor centre in Spier and runs almost entirely along dedicated cycle paths. The “Familiepad Dwingelderveld” walking trail is easily accessible for wheelchair users. The different options therefore each have a distinct focus: a walk of a stated length, a route through the national park, a cycling tour or an accessible walking trail.

Memorial sites and architectural history

The monument in Spier is dedicated to Jean Salomo Simons and Claudius Campan. It commemorates Simons, a French military serviceman who fell on 11 April 1945 during the liberation of Spier. The monument stands on Moraineweg, between the cycle path and the road, level with Hotel de Woudzoom. Another memorial is a remembrance cross in the forest near Spier. It commemorates 21 civilians from Spier who were shot by the occupying forces in a reprisal during the Second World War.

The village’s architectural history can also be seen in a surviving farmhouse. One of the oldest surviving farms in Spier is an 18th-century hall house farm on De Steegde. The farm includes a barn and a detached stookhok; the building has been converted into a house.

Fun and games along the way

“The Nature Game Drenthe” starts at Van der Valk Spier, Oude Postweg 8, in Spier. Along the way, participants watch videos, solve riddles and take part in interactive games. The game is suitable for ages eight and up; children aged six and over can take part when accompanied by an adult or an older sibling. If arrangements change, check the starting point again before setting off.

The options are easy to distinguish when choosing what to focus on: the Boswandeling gives a fixed distance and passes through the planted forest; the Audioroute is a cycling tour, while the Buiten Bereik Route includes a distinctive seating spot, the Zinzitter. The memorial sites and historic farmhouse offer other ways to explore Spier’s history. This lets you plan your time around the things that interest you most, without having to combine nature, local history and exercise into a single itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Balinge, Wijster, Elp, Witteveen, Orvelte, Hoogersmilde, Hijken, Westerbork

For the broader travel overview: Midden-Drenthe.