Een-West lies near the point where the provinces of Drenthe, Groningen and Friesland meet. The village brings together a specific border history with a rural settlement and landscape history: the Zwartedijksterschans is nearby, while the village’s origins are connected with the reclamation of the Eenerveld. This gives a stay two distinct themes – the defensive history of the rampart and the natural history of the Schansduinen. Both place Een-West in its landscape, each in a different way.

The Zwartedijksterschans and its history

The Zwartedijksterschans, also known by the spelling Zwartendijksterschans, is a square defensive fortification dating from the 16th century. It was built on the orders of the Frisian stadtholder Willem Lodewijk. In the winter of 1593–1594, it was constructed as an earthwork rampart between Bakkeveen in Friesland and the village of Een in Drenthe. Its purpose was to protect Friesland from incursions by Spanish troops under the stadtholder Verdugo. It is freely accessible to the public and lies on Schansweg between Een and Een-West.

Routes through different periods

As early as the Middle Ages, a route ran along the Zwartendijk from Norg through Een and Bakkeveen to Friesland. This historic route should be distinguished from the Friese Waterlinie I cycling route. The cycling route leads, among other places, to the Zwartedijksterschans near Een-West and crosses the N979 on its way to Drenthe. The medieval route and the cycling route represent different periods – one reflects the historic connection to Friesland, the other a bike ride to the rampart. Before planning your bike ride, check the current route.

A dispersed village with Frisian and Groningen roots

Een-West was established around 100 years ago during the reclamation of the Eenerveld and developed into a dispersed village. The first settlers were mainly farmers and peat workers from Friesland and Groningen. The village’s history thus links the rural development of the Eenerveld with migration from two neighboring provinces. The scattered buildings are concentrated mainly along Hoofdweg, Schansweg and Vennootsweg. These three roads provide clear landmarks for getting around the dispersed settlement.

Schansduinen and butterflies

East of Hoofdweg lies a plot of woodland and heathland, a remnant of the once-extensive Schansduinen. The Schansduinen consist of a western and an eastern section. The western section contains dry heathland, dominated mainly by heather; bell heather also grows in wetter spots. The contrast between dry heath and wetter areas makes the vegetation a distinctive feature of the surroundings. A survey in 2025 recorded a total of 847 butterflies from 26 species in the Schansduinen.

When choosing a destination, you can weigh up whether you are more interested in the dated defensive history or the landscape, with its heathland vegetation and butterflies. These offer cultural-historical and natural-history highlights side by side, while the settlement history adds the story of how the dispersed village came about.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Een, Norg, Alteveer, Roden, Westervelde, Veenhuizen, Roderesch, Peize

For the main travel overview: Noordenveld.