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 constructed 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. The exploitation of the peat started around 1635. Many canals were dug and shipping developed strongly as a result. After the Second World War, many canals were filled in. There are still a number of skipper's 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 distinguishes itself by its friendly and excellent service. There are 41 renovated luxurious rooms that are fully equipped: a smart TV with free WiFi, a Dolce Gusto coffee machine and a minibar. We recommend that you spend the night in this beautiful hotel so that you can use our package with route 135883 and relax in the hotel sauna after your bike ride. From the hotel you leave in a westerly direction to the De Juffer mill. 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 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 upper porter. After a fire in 1904, the mill was rebuilt as a round stone mill. The mill has a radius of almost 20 meters and functioned as a flour mill. The mill was last restored in 2008, during which the stone substructure was renewed and the interior and roof of the mill were restored. The mill is now out of operation, which is a shame, because standing still often means decline for a mill.