The Pieterpad - Rolde to Ommen 7 days

Just before reaching the starting point of this stage in Rolde, you'll find two of Drenthe's most famous burial mounds (Hunebedden). After admiring these megalithic tombs, the hike begins through the beautiful Drentsche Aa National Park, a centuries-old landscape shaped by the interaction of humankind and nature. Next comes the Drouwenerveld, a stunning area of ​​heathland, forests, and bogs. Here, the characteristic Drenthe sheep graze, and you might even encounter the imposing Scottish Highland cattle! The final section leads through a lovely wooded area, and you'll eventually reach the village of Schoonloo.

Overnight stay: Schoonloo

Leaving the Drenther Aa river via the Schoonloo nature reserve, you enter the Sleenerzand forests. During a delightful hike, you'll encounter the Kielse Stein, a roughly 26-ton glacial erratic from the last Ice Age, just off the path. Continuing through the beautiful Sleenerzand, you'll pass the "Pieterpad Monument," erected in honor of its inventors, as well as many interesting historical sites, such as the "Celtic Fields" and the burial mound field "de Galgenberg." If you venture slightly off the path, you can also visit Hunebed 49, also known as the "Papeloze Kerk."

Accommodation location: Sleen

Before leaving the picturesque village of Sleen, one of Drenthe's most authentic Brink villages, be sure to stop by the restored village fountain and the De Hoop windmill. Continue your journey through the beautiful Drenthe countryside with its typical farmhouses and green meadows. Stop in the "whisky" village of Den Hool or the slightly more distant peat bog village of Dalerveen for a well-deserved rest and a coffee break. If you still have some energy left, you can visit Coevorden Castle, which has a fascinating history due to its location between the Hanseatic cities of Münster and Groningen.

Overnight stay: Coevorden

Leaving the "Goose Town" of Coevorden, you enter the beautiful countryside of the "Poort von Drenthe" (Drenthe Gate), where the eponymous stone sculpture stands. Leaving Drenthe, you enter the province of Overijssel. Follow the Overijsselse Vecht valley, which runs from Gramsbergen on the German border to Zwolle. Gramsbergen has a picturesque old town with beautifully restored houses in the traditional style. Here, admire the bronze sculptures of the "Pieterpad" hikers. The path leads you through the village of Ane, and you continue a little further through the Englandsche Wald (England Forest), which lies in an old bend of the Vecht River. Finally, you reach Hardenberg.

Overnight stay: Hardenberg

Once you arrive at the trailhead, you'll first hike along the so-called "Molengoot," an old channel of the Vecht River. Experiencing the subsequent "Rheezermaten," a nature reserve managed by Staatsbosbeheer (the Dutch Forestry Commission), will be a delight. Afterwards, you'll reach the charming town of Rheeze, whose history dates back to the Middle Ages. Then, you'll find some peace and quiet on a pleasant hiking trail that leads through the Hardenberg forests and along the banks of the Vecht and Beneden-Regge rivers. You'll continue your hike past the Junne estate before finally arriving in the lively town of Ommen.

Overnight stay: Ommen

You will depart after breakfast. However, you can extend your trip with an extra night upon request or continue hiking the Pieterpad trail to, for example, Vorden.