Peize offers two different perspectives: walks and nature areas on the one hand, churches, historic architectural features and hop-growing culture on the other. Depending on whether you prefer spending time outdoors or exploring the village’s history, you can choose different focuses.
Walks and nature around Peize
From Peize, you can go straight into De Onlanden, a large nature and water-storage area. You can also cycle through the expansive landscape. Several walking routes run along and through the Peizermaden, offering further ways to explore on foot.
The “Dorpsommetje ’t Paiser Hopje plus de Onlanden” walk is 12.5 kilometres long. It passes through Peize, by several historic sites, and through the nature areas of De Onlanden and De Stenhorsten. If you prefer a shorter route, you can shorten this walk to a village circuit of about 6 kilometres. This gives you a choice between a longer tour passing through several areas and a shorter walk around the village.
A named walking route in De Onlanden is just under 7 kilometres long. Guided birdwatching, cycling and deer excursions from De Onlanderij in Eelderwolde are also regularly offered in De Onlanden. If you would like to join a guided tour, it is worth checking the dates in advance. Cycling routes around Peize can be downloaded or put together yourself.
Organs and historic traces
The Dorpskerk houses the Verbeeck-Schnitger-Hinsz organ, dating from 1631. The Schnitger organ in the village church is the oldest organ in Drenthe and contains more than 1,000 pipes. The church’s baptismal font also tells a story of different eras: it is about 800 years old and carved from a single block of sandstone. It was bought by the Provincial Museum at the end of 1883 and returned to the church on loan in 1988.
More architectural history can be found at various places in the village. The tower of the Ned. Herv. Kerk dates from 1803. Huis ter Hansouwe is the surviving part of a building that already existed in the 16th century and was incorporated into a farmhouse built in 1837. At Brinkweg 2, the surviving part of Huis te Peize features a coat-of-arms stone on a gable façade, bearing two coats of arms and the date “Anno 1706”.
The Stichting Schnitgerorgel Peize organises benefit concerts. Alongside the historic instruments, the foundation’s concert programme is another part of the village’s cultural life.
Hops, gardens and local produce
Hops are still grown in the Hoptuin Peize. The garden is part of a long regional history: in the past, many farmers in Peize sold hop cones to brewers in the surrounding area, as well as in Germany and England. The present-day hop garden and the history of this trade offer two different perspectives on hop growing.
Another local product is available at the Molenwinkel of the Paiser Meul: bread made from wheat grown by the Paiser Meul is sold there. The Heemtuin in Peize has a different focus. It is a plant garden featuring a range of native plants typical of the region.
Village life and other discoveries
Peize’s centre has an open layout, plenty of greenery, terraces and a few shops. For outdoor exercise, there is the multifunctional Beweegpark on Boerakkerweg, where clubs, residents and passers-by can take part in sports. The completed Tour Elektrik walking project adds another local creative touch: local artists decorated electricity cabinets as part of the project.
Peize therefore offers a range of things to enjoy during a stay: a walk with a choice of route lengths, nature and cycling routes, historic churches and architectural features, and insights into hop growing and local produce. When planning your trip, you can start by deciding whether you would rather spend your time on the trails or exploring the village’s cultural attractions.
Discover more destinations: Peest, Alteveer, Een-West, Zuidvelde, Roderwolde, Een, Norg, Roderesch
For the main travel overview: Noordenveld.
