The Havelterberg Route

The Havelterberg is a moraine that was formed during the Ice Age of 250,000-130,000 years ago. Nowadays, the Drenthe part of the Havelterberg is partly a forest and nature reserve and partly a military training area. The area consists of drifting sand, wet and dry heathland and planted forests. The fact that people lived here in early years is evident from the two dolmens, the many burial mounds and the presence of a Celtic Field. During the Second World War, the Germans built an airfield here. The tracks, the walled hangars, the runway and, after the bombings by the Allies, the many bomb craters, are still recognizable in the field.

Uffelte
Uffelte is already mentioned in 1040, but not as Uffelte, but as Ophelte. Uffelte played a role in the management of the many courts of the bishop of Utrecht for a long time. The main court with the storage barns was located in Uffelte. As a result, Uffelte developed into an administrative centre with a large grain storage. Until the 19th century, Uffelte still had obligations to Utrecht. The es of Uffelte, located between the nature reserves Holtingerzand, Oosterzand, Westerzand and Uffelterzand, is one of the largest es in Drenthe.

Havelte
The prehistory of Havelte is rather vague. Before 1342, Havelte, then called Hesselte, was located between the current Havelte and Darp. The current Havelte was created after 1342 at its current location, probably as a split between Hesselte and Uffelte. Hesselte continued to exist, but was given the name Darp. After the Second World War, Darp shifted to its current location. The reformed church from 1310 with the tower from 1410 is located east of the village with a Van Oekelen organ (1819), originally halfway between Hesselte and Uffelte. Havelte has beautiful 18th century farms and sheepfolds. To the west of Havelte lies the beautiful Huis Overcinge. It was first mentioned in 1313. The current building dates from the 17th century. To the north lies the Butterfly Paradise Papiliorama.

Ruinerwold
A charter from 1141 already mentions a marshland between Ruinen and Meppel. Around 1900 large farms were built along the road to Meppel. Until 1924 the Dr. Larijweg was a footpath that ran along the farms. When it was put into use it was decided that more than 1300 pear trees had to be planted along the road. The flowering trees give the landscape a special appearance in the spring. The Reformed Church of Ruinerwold is located in the hamlet of Blijdenstein. The church dates from the 12th century and was enlarged in the 16th century. The tower was built in the 15th century. The interior includes a Van Oeckelen organ.

Meppel
Meppel was first mentioned in 1141 and was granted city rights in 1815. Meppel was founded at the point where a number of small rivers and canals met. Peat was transported from the peatlands and grain from Uffelte over these waterways for hundreds of years. Goods were transported to Meppel from across the Zuiderzee. As a result, it became a flourishing trading city early on. In 1509, Meppel was given a castle for defence, which was destroyed in 1580. Meppel is accessible to large inland vessels and small coasters and fulfils a transhipment function. It is also a railway junction. Meppel is therefore also called The Gate of Drenthe. The cityscape of Meppel is largely determined by the many canals and the Protestant church from 1422.

New Year's Eve
Nijeveen is already mentioned in 1310, but not as Nijeveen but as Hesselerveen. The peat belonging to Hesselte near Havelte. It were the monks of Ruinen who extracted the peat from Havelte. Nijeveen was built along an old dike. Kolderveen was also built along the same dike. A new dike was constructed to the northwest of Kolderveen and Nijeveen and Kolderveense - and Nijeveense Bovenboer were built. The Gothic church (1480) now stands outside the village and is still in almost its original state with an offering table from 1477. A modern bell tower stands at the cemetery.