Every summer and winter, the Shakespeare Theatre in Diever stages plays by William Shakespeare. Another defining thread runs through Westerveld to the Colonies of Benevolence, their historic sites and museums. Walking and cycling routes also offer different ways to explore the area’s history and landscapes. Check the current performance dates before your trip.
Discover Culture and History
In 2021, Veenhuizen, Frederiksoord, Wilhelminaoord and Wortel in Belgium jointly received UNESCO World Heritage status as the Colonies of Benevolence. The largest part of the Colonies lies in the municipality of Westerveld, including Veenhuizen, Frederiksoord and Wilhelminaoord. Museum De Proefkolonie brings the stories of the first colonists to life through a multimedia tour. Check access arrangements and booking details before your visit.
You can also explore the history of the former colony villages by bicycle. The 26-kilometre audio cycling tour with Philip Freriks passes through Frederiksoord and Wilhelminaoord. The Weldadig Rondje is 36 kilometres long and runs through the historic locations of Frederiksoord, Wilhelminaoord and Willemsoord in the Free Colonies of Benevolence. The different route lengths give you a practical guide when choosing; for the 36-kilometre route, check route conditions and signage in advance. It is also advisable to check route and booking details for the audio cycling tour.
In Diever, the OERmuseum uses archaeological finds to show what happened in West Drenthe thousands of years ago. The Valse Kunst Museum in Vledder tells the story behind the art forgeries in its collection and also has collections of contemporary glass art and Drenthe painting. At the Miramar Zeemuseum in Vledder, the collection includes shells, corals and other marine animals from more than 80 countries.
The Miramar also has the Jutterspad, a permanent outdoor route in the museum garden. The path is free to access, even when the museum is closed, and combines play, nature experiences and environmental awareness. It offers a way to explore a museum theme outdoors, without needing to visit the museum itself.
Routes and Landscapes
Holtingerveld is designated as a Natura 2000 area. Its information centre houses the permanent interactive exhibition “Oerlandschap gekneed door ijs en oorlog” (Primeval Landscape Shaped by Ice and War), about the area’s formation, history and nature. TIP Havelte also answers visitors’ questions there about leisure activities and history. A five-kilometre route starts and ends at the information centre.
Toegangspoort Holtingerveld offers parking, an information centre, Brasserie Oer, a children’s playground, a glacial erratic garden and the sheepfold of the Holtinger flock. The paid-entry butterfly paradise Papiliorama is also on the site. Walking and cycling routes lead from Toegangspoort to, among other places, the hunebeds at the foot of Havelterberg. As route conditions can change seasonally, check them before setting out. Also check the facilities and admission arrangements before travelling there.
Hunebed D53 in Havelte is the only megalithic tomb to have suffered war damage. For anyone interested in the history of the landscape, it offers a tangible point of reference: the visible site combines a striking megalithic tomb with a distinctive historical experience.
Landgoed Vledderhof lies north of Vledder. Walking paths pass through varied woodland and grassland; there is also a signposted 8.5-kilometre walking route. A shorter option is the three-kilometre Sterrebosroute in Frederiksoord: it passes through the historic Sterrebos and is fully paved. Check seasonal conditions for the Sterrebosroute.
Various walking, cycling and mountain biking routes start at PUUR in Diever, offering a way to explore Drents-Friese Wold. The national park covers 6,000 hectares and is one of the largest natural areas in the Netherlands. Check route availability locally. For an outing focused on culture and water management, Bezoekerscentrum Dieversluis is located next to the Dieverbrug lock. An audiovisual presentation there provides information about the Drentsche Hoofdvaart, water management in Drenthe and the surrounding recreation area; opening is seasonal, so check before your trip.
Practical Visitor Information
The Tourist Info Points in the municipality of Westerveld provide information about events, accommodation, cycling, walking and horse-riding routes, attractions, museums and other activities. Check locations and opening hours in advance. This will help you tailor your choices to the topics that interest you most—for example, the history of the Colonies, museums or a particular route.
Discover more destinations: Diever, Dieverbrug, Havelte, Vledder, Wapse, Zorgvlied, Wateren, Doldersum, Uffelte, Frederiksoord, Dwingeloo, Wapserveen, Nijensleek, Oude Willem, Vledderveen, Wilhelminaoord.
For the main travel overview: Drenthe.
