Drenthe Forest Route

Peace and quiet plays a predominant role in this cycle route. A large part of the route passes through the Hooghalen, Grolloo and Schoonloo forests, which were constructed after 1922.

Memorial Center Camp Westerbork
The 'Camp Westerbork Memory Center' is impressive, where the history of the former Camp Westerbork is told. The Melkwegpad, an educational walking trail that provides information about the Milky Way Galaxy, starts at the parking lot of the Remembrance Center.

Hooghalen
Within the Hooghalen forestry, the'Camp Westerbork\\\' occupies an important place. In 1939, the Dutch government established a reception camp here for German Jews who had fled. From 1942 to 1945, the German rulers used it as a transit camp. From here, captured Jews and Gypsies were interned before being transported to the extermination camps in Poland. After the Second World War, the camp was renamed'Schattenberg\\\' and was used to house Moluccan soldiers. It was demolished in 1971; then came the Radio Telescopes. In the mid-1980s the camp was redecorated with the arrival of the Camp Westerbork Memorial Center. At the end is the famous Westerbork monument by Ralph Prins, the bent railway tracks.

Rotatable Dishes
After the entrance gate of the former'Camp Westerbork\\\' you will see 12 rotating dishes of the Radio Observatory on the right. The other 2 are further along at the lookout tower.

Holmers and Halkenbroek
The Holmers and Halkenbroek stream valley is one of the source areas of the Drentsche Aa. To give the source area a natural character again, conifers have been cut down, ditches and waterways filled in and the fertile top layer removed. The Amerdiep in the
Holmers can now form his own course. In Halkenbroek the Amerdiep has been remeandered. From the 14 meter high lookout tower you have a beautiful view of Holmers and Halkenbroek.

Esdorp Elp
The current esdorp Elp has a long history. The first mention dates from 1362. However, excavations have already found farms, spiekers (a type of granary) and other buildings, which can be dated to around 1000 BC. The Elperstroom is located near Elp. Together with the Drentsche Aa, this is one of the most beautiful unspoilt stream valley landscapes in the Netherlands. Various rare plants grow on the poor soil and blue grasslands.

Esdorp Amen
The small esdorp village of Amen is mentioned as early as 944. The name has no Christian background, but probably refers to a settlement on the no longer existing river Aam.

The Great Sand
As a change from all the forests and stream valleys, here, the Groote Zand, is a beautiful and partly bare drifting sand area. People have lived here since prehistoric times. Remains of 2 dolmens, urn fields and a burial mound have been found.