Round Smeerling and Vledderveen

First of all, your route leads you into the Vledderbos, a young forest plantation where you cross a huge forest pond. The forest belongs to Vledderveen, a small village under the smoke of Stadskanaal. You cycle to Smeerling through small villages and the wide Groningen farm landscape. This hamlet has been declared a protected village view because of several centuries-old Westerwold farms. In one of these farms you will find a gasterij, a nice place to have a coffee. Smeerling is located in the valley of the Ruiten Aa, a beautiful park-like area around a narrow meandering stream.