Cycle route with surprises in Midden-Drenthe 59 km

Orvelte, Beilen, Aalden

This varied cycling route full of Drenthe surprises starts at the Nature Gate in Spier. Here you can park your car and start your cycling tour through, not for nothing, the cycling province. You cycle from nature reserve to estate and National Park. Along forests, heathland, es- and brink villages and even along tulip fields. Along the way we found the most varied moments to stop for you.

As mentioned, the tour starts in Spier. In this small village on the edge of the Dwingelderveld, you will find Hilde's shop in a cozy farm: De Bonte Bedoeling. Here she sells regional products and especially sheepskins. From your bike you can see her beautiful furs fluttering over the fence. The next village on the route is Wijster, known for the train hijacking in December 1975. You do not cycle past the location of the hostage-taking, which is a bit further away, but you do pass the place where the Wijster train station once was. There is now a sign here with information about the former station and the crossing guard's house that has been preserved.

After Wijster you cycle along the edge of the Vossenberg estate, which consists of flowery meadows in the Eekma stream valley. A little further on you come through the peaceful forest at the Gelpenberg. In the spring the contrast could not be greater when you continue your way along the tulip fields before Aalden. In Drenthe too you can enjoy, very surprisingly, an explosion of colour, but then less massively than you would find in the bulb region.

Now it is Orvelte's turn, a monumental village where you feel like you have gone back centuries. It is really recommended to park your bike here for a while to explore the village green and its many sights on foot. The clog factory, the sawmill, the horse tram, the grocer's shop and the galleries, the Iron Age farm and the Jan Kruis Museum are all interesting places to visit.

Via the farm shop of Zuidveld you approach Zwiggelte. In this authentic village you will find several atmospheric and thatched farms from the 17th century, but also the studio of artist Ellen Visser that you can visit. Through the vast rural area of Drenthe, along streams and farms you cycle from Zwiggelte to esdorp Beilen. The fact that Beilen has a rich history is evident from the archaeological find that was made there in 1955: a gold treasure from the end of the fourth century. The Roman coins and jewelry that were found there can be viewed in the Drents Museum in Assen.

Past Beilen you cycle into the Terhorsterzand, a small nature reserve, but great in variation. Forest, heathland, a recreational lake and the remains of a German shooting range are just a few items you pass. The Terhorsterzand connects seamlessly to the Dwingelderveld National Park, where you started the route. Here you can enjoy the vast heathlands, the grazing cattle, the fascinating songbirds and everything the National Park has to offer, before you return to your car after a day full of surprises.