Stadskanaal, Gasselternijveen and Gieterveen

The village of Stadskanaal originated as a peat colony and grew over the years into a regional center. More and more buildings were built on the edge of the canal, which was built in the eighteenth century. After the Second World War, Stadskanaal grew strongly, partly due to the arrival of multinational Philips. Just west of Stadskanaal you will find Gasselternijveen. Farmers from Gasselte settled on the sand ridges along the Hunze in the late Middle Ages. Reclamation of the peat started around 1635. Many canals were excavated and shipping developed strongly as a result. After the Second World War, many canals were closed. There are still a number of skipper houses in the village that remind of the old days. The route starts at Best Western Hotel Stadskanaal. The hotel was renovated in July 2013 and has a characteristic striking building in a quiet area. The hotel stands out for its friendly and excellent service. There are 41 renovated luxury rooms that are fully equipped: a smart TV with free WiFi, a Dolce Gusto coffee machine and a minibar. We recommend that you stay overnight in this beautiful hotel so that you can make use of our package deal with route 135883 and relax in the hotel's sauna after your bike ride. From the hotel you leave in a westerly direction to windmill De Juffer. This mill replaces an earlier mill that was built here in 1841. The current mill was built in 1970 after the predecessor was demolished in 1963. The new mill is a round stone scaffolding mill that is used as a flour mill. The mill now grinds on a voluntary basis and also serves as a wedding location. Then you cycle to the Eendracht mill. This beautiful mill was originally built in 1877 as an octagonal top porter. After a fire in 1904, the mill was rebuilt as a round stone mill. The mill has a flight of almost 20 meters and functioned as a flour mill. The mill was last restored in 2008, with the stone substructure being renewed and the interior and roof of the mill restored. The mill is currently out of operation, which is a shame, because standstill often means deterioration for a mill.