Wateren is a rural village in the heart of the forests of the Drents-Friese Wold National Landscape, surrounded by woodland. Thanks to its central location near Drents-Friese Wold National Park, the village is an important tourist area. Nature, historical topics, and cycling and horse-riding routes offer different ways to plan your stay. In the wider region around Wateren, Drents-Friese Wold National Park covers more than 6,000 hectares.
Landscape and natural features
The Vledder Aa rises northeast of Wateren in the Aekingerbroek nature area. North of the Ganzenpoel near Wateren are pingo remnants, an example of a shallow dobbe: 2.80 m deep and approximately 150 m wide. The river’s source and the dobbe represent different natural features in the area around Wateren.
Cycling routes: theme and navigation
The Fietsrondje Frederiksoord is a 40 km cycling route focused on education in the Colonies of Benevolence. The route is signposted and can be followed using the route signs. One of its highlights is the Landbouwkundig Instituut Wateren. Its educational theme, together with the stated distance, is a useful point of reference if you are looking for a cycling route with a cultural focus.
The Zindag route passes through Wateren and Drents-Friese Wold National Park. It is not signposted and can be downloaded. When comparing routes, distance, theme and navigation are useful points of difference: the Fietsrondje combines a 40 km distance, an educational theme and signposting; Zindag stands out for passing through Wateren and the national park, and for being available to download. This lets you compare the options according to your planning priorities. Route details may change; check the latest information before setting out.
Local history across different periods
Wateren originated in the Middle Ages and belonged to the Diever markegenootschap, a traditional communal land association. It is also older than neighbouring Zorgvlied. In 1823, an agricultural institute was founded in Klein Wateren, on what is now Dorpsstraat in Zorgvlied. Since 1994, a memorial on Huenderweg, between Wateren and Doldersum, has commemorated seven young men who were shot there by the occupying forces in 1944. These events represent different periods in the area’s history: its medieval origins, agricultural education and remembrance of the occupation.
Accommodation and horse-riding
For accommodation, Hoeve Heide & Wold is a specifically named holiday farm in Wateren. It is right beside walking, cycling and horse-riding routes. If this location is important to your choice, check access details before your visit; they may change.
The blue Men and Horse-Riding Route in Drents-Friese Wold has a trailer parking area at Landgoed Alberhoeve in Wateren; you must contact them in advance. Near Wateren, there is a special horse-bathing pond beside the Appelscha–Wateren road, north of the Canadameer.
Discover more destinations: Wapse, Vledderveen, Nijensleek, Uffelte, Wilhelminaoord, Diever, Havelte, Oude Willem.
For the broader travel overview: Westerveld.
