Oude Willem is a 450-hectare former agricultural area in the centre of Nationaal Park Drents-Friese Wold. Nature and history are reflected here in different ways: in the planned restoration of the area as the natural headwaters of the Vledder Aa, on walking and cycling trails, and at memorial sites and prehistoric traces.

Water, woodland edges and birdlife

A newly created shallow channel gradually diverts excess water to the Vledder Aa during heavy rain. Shrubs planted along the woodland edges create a natural transition between forest and fields. Together with the restoration objective, these features give the landscape a distinctive character: water management, wooded borders and former agricultural use are all part of its history.

Birdlife is also part of this landscape. Cranes forage in Oude Willem; snipes and lapwings nest here. These observations illustrate different aspects of the area: foraging in the case of the cranes, and nesting by the other two species.

Walking trails with different features

The first section of the Oude Willem walking route follows many narrow, winding paths. The route also passes through a plantation forest dating from the 1930s and by a birdwatching screen with a special climbing aid for children. This gives the walk specific trail and landscape features that can be taken into account when planning.

The Tilgrupvallei is another walking route near Oude Willem. It is about six kilometres long and marked with red signs. One distinctive feature is the wooden boardwalks, which let you cross the meandering Tilgrup stream with dry feet. The length and markings help with planning, while the boardwalks show how the route crosses the stream. Trail conditions can change, so check them before setting out.

Cycling and other trails

The replacement cycle path through Oude Willem runs across higher, drier ground outside the quiet core zone and passes a new observation hill. This gives it a distinct connection to the landscape: its location is explicitly separate from the quiet core zone. As trail conditions can change, it is a good idea to check them before your ride.

There is also a new route for horse riding and driving that connects the nature areas on either side of the Oude Willemsweg. This route adds another way to get around to the walking and cycling trails described above. The connection is between the areas on both sides of the Oude Willemsweg.

Memorial sites and prehistoric traces

At Bosweg in Oude Willem, the “Diever A and Diever B” monument commemorates Jewish forced labourers. It consists of a glass memorial plaque between two curved concrete posts, with a Star of David above the text. The site thus combines a clearly defined purpose of remembrance with a distinctive design.

Another memorial in the woods near Oude Willem commemorates the crew of a Canadian aircraft that crashed there on 22 November 1943. The burial mounds near Oude Willem bear witness to a much older history: they represent prehistoric settlement, and the oldest visible traces date from the Iron Age. Different periods thus meet here: early settlement and specific memorial sites.

Plan your stay around your interests

When looking for a holiday rental, it may help to decide first what you want to focus on during your trip: would you mainly like to walk and cycle, or are you especially interested in the memorial sites and prehistoric traces? This can help you choose what to explore in Oude Willem based on the experiences you’re looking for during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Frederiksoord, Havelte, Wilhelminaoord, Wapse, Vledder, Diever, Uffelte, Wateren

For the overview of the wider area: Westerveld.