In Witteveen, the history of land reclamation meets walking routes of varying lengths and layouts. The planned village layout shapes the village; nature observations and local historical traces add further highlights to a stay.

Village layout and settlement history

The largest land reclamation projects near Witteveen began in 1925 and covered 1,700 hectares. The first residents moved into the workers’ houses the following year. This places the early settlement and large-scale land reclamation close together in time. The village, designed according to a plan, is characterized by straight streets and regularly spaced civic houses of the same type. The design is therefore evident not just in a single house, but in the streetscape and the repeated building style. Witteveen’s natural cemetery has also been in use since 2005, adding a more recent feature to the village’s history.

The Witteveen Dorpsommetje

The Witteveen Dorpsommetje is a short walk from the village and measures 4.5 kilometers. The route follows both paved and unpaved paths, so take both types of surface into account when planning. At one junction, the path heads toward Bosplas. Free parking is available near the football pitches. Dogs may accompany you on the Dorpsommetje, but must be kept on a leash. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

Stobbenplas and birdwatching

An additional loop around Stobbenplas can be taken via the yellow-marked post route. There is a birdwatching hut at Stobbenplas. Ducks and cormorants can almost always be seen there; the regularly appearing little grebe is a special sighting. If you are interested in birdwatching, you can make Stobbenplas a specific focus when choosing your route.

Walking route through the state forests

The yellow walking route starts at the information board. It is about five kilometers long and runs through the state forests near Witteveen. Compared with the 4.5-kilometer Dorpsommetje, it is about half a kilometer longer. The Dorpsommetje is therefore the shorter option; the yellow route combines a longer distance with a course through state forests. The difference in length is small, but the village walk and mixed surfaces offer a different focus from the forest route.

Botanical highlight along the sandy path

The rare plants zevenster and dalkruid may be found along a more distant sandy path on the walking route near Witteveen. This adds a botanical aspect to the routes, alongside birdwatching at Stobbenplas.

A trace of the former harbor

In 2010, a jetty in the old style was reconstructed at Witteveen’s former harbor. This historical detail extends the view beyond the planned settlement to another part of the local cultural landscape.

Discover more destinations: Wijster, Mantinge, Spier, Balinge, Elp, Smilde, Hoogersmilde, Ruinerwold

For the overview of the wider area: Midden-Drenthe.