Hardenberg, Diffelen and Rheeze

Hardenberg originated close to a castle of the Utrecht bishop that was located on the Herdenbergh. Since it was an important border town, it was walled in 1230. In the east of the route you cycle through the Bruchterveld, a heathland reclaimed in the early 20th century, of which some peat remains are still present here and there. Near Diffelen is one of the nine weirs in the Vecht, which regulate the large differences in the water level of this rainy river. The weirs and more than sixty bends have given the Vecht a completely different character. On the northern Vechtoever there are several old hamlets, such as Diffeien and Rheeze, each surrounded by their own ash tree. North of this were the common market lands, the Rheezerveld and the Diffelerveld. These used to be extensive heathlands, partly with drifting sand such as the Rheezerbelten. Until recently, the BovenVecht upstream of Ommen had not yet been diked. Only the low Martian lands along the river were flooded every winter. After large parts of Hardenberg were flooded in 1953, 30 km of dike was constructed. On the west side of the route you drive past the Diffelerveld, more than 1000 hectares of heathland that was planted with forest as part of the job creation. This is how Hardenberg Forestry was born. Heemse has almost been completely swallowed up by Hardenberg. Some of the old atmosphere has remained in the white-plastered church with its centuries-old cemetery and old lime trees.