Eext, South Laren and Annen

The Strubben and the Kniphorstbos together form the only archaeological reserve in the Netherlands. The name of the reserve refers to the whimsical oak coppice, which is also called 'strubben' or 'strubbel', and to the owner and cultivator of the heaths in the area, Gerrit Kniphout. The nature reserve was used as a military training area from 1938, but these activities have ceased since 2006. The Strubben and the Kniphorstbos were then transferred to Staatsbosbeheer and were given the status of archaeological national monument. Traces from prehistoric times are still clearly visible along the route: the area is home to about sixty burial mounds in total, but you will also pass the two remaining dolmens. At Herberg De Rustende Jager in Eext, you start the bike ride. Here you can park your car for free and then head north. Before you cycle into the next village, Anloo, you have already encountered six burial mounds. Burial mounds often resemble dolmens or dolmen; also in these ancient hills the dead were laid to rest. A burial mound is also called a tumulus (raised over the grave of a prominent citizen) or cairn (a burial mound made of stones). When someone died, a burial mound was raised over the human remains, which were kept in a coffin or urn. Once a burial mound was erected, it was used to bury several people. Burial mounds have been found that have been used in different times and have been adapted over the centuries. Apart from being a final resting place, burial mounds were also used as a place of worship. When you have passed Anloo, you will come across three more burial mounds and a further special prehistoric cemetery: hunebed D08. This hunebed is still quite complete and is quietly situated along a walking path on the edge of an extensive forest area. Although the wreath stones are no longer present, this is one of the most beautiful and complete dolmens in Drenthe. You cycle past two more burial mounds and then arrive at Hunebed D07. The stone grave is half hidden among the trees, at the edge of the forest. D07 is a medium-sized hunebed, about 3 meters wide and 9 meters long. All four capstones are still present. One large capstone is broken; part of it lies in the crypt. You continue cycling past two more burial mounds and then you arrive at manor Laarwoud. The original building dates from the early seventeenth century, but Laarwoud was probably founded in the Middle Ages. For years, the manor house was owned by many different owners, until it was sold in 1915 to the municipality, which repurposed it as the official residence of the mayor. He lived there until 1941. During the Second World War, the manor house was used by the Germans. When in 1946 the municipality again had free disposal of the house, it was dilapidated and poorly maintained. Laarwoud was refurbished and was used as a town hall until 2004. The building was then sold and the estate has been privately inhabited ever since. Via another burial mound in Schuilingsoord, you arrive at Hunebed D09. The hunebed is easy to miss, because the stone grave is in the middle of a residential area. At first you may not even recognize it as a hunebed. If you take a closer look, you can see that there are concrete molds in the floors, where other stones used to be. This hunebed must have been quite large in the past, but nowadays you can only see half of it and it has been reduced to a compact variant of the original grave.