Arrival. Bike route of your choice

After arriving at the hotel, explore the surrounding area. Included in the welcome packet are some fun hikes. Starting point is the hotel. Of course, you can also choose to get out and about by bicycle. Besides the cycling routes included in the program of your cycling vacation, you can also choose from the cycling route guide included in the cycling package. At the hotel reception, you can then pick up the junction map of your desired cycling route.

Overnight stay in Ees

Flint route (40 km)

This tour starts towards Valthe, with its old brink and Saxon farmhouses. The next stop is the village of Exloo, where you will find a sheepfold and flock on the brink. Also wonderful terraces for a cup of coffee! Through the Hunebedcentrum, with its prehistoric park and the largest hunebed in the Netherlands, continue cycling towards Drouwen. In Drouwen, you can visit museum Petrified Life. Located on the edge of the Hondsrug and Hunze Valley, Petrified Life is a household name in the Netherlands and far beyond. This exhibition farm features a large assortment of minerals, fossils, jewelry and shells from around the world. Time for lunch? You can do that just fine in Borger! Borger is the largest village in the municipality, with many stores and nice restaurants. Just before junction 6 is the observation tower at teahouse Poolshoogte to take a look at the area from above. What a view! The route ends back at the hotel.

Overnight stay in Ees

Ellertsveld route (60 km)

On this route, you will bike directly toward Schoonoord. Along the way, you will pass the Ellert and Brammert Open Air Museum. The Ellerts Field was once the wild area where a Drenthe folktale took place. This is where the predatory giants Ellert and Brammert lived. At the Open Air Museum you will learn all about the cultural history of Southeast Drenthe, such as the plaggen huts that people lived in. Via the Sleenerzand and the Schapendijk, you cycle through the brink villages of Sleen and Erm. You continue your way through the Ermerstrand towards the center of Emmen. Enjoy Emmen's new square on one of its many terraces, or take a rest at Rensen Park. From Emmen, you bike right into the nature of the Valtherbos. There are numerous burial mounds and three dolmens here. If you look closely, you can even find a hiding place from World War II. This is definitely worth seeing!

Overnight stay in Ees

Departure or Orvelteroute (51 km).

Back in time! This route takes you past museum village Orvelte.

From Ees, cycle along the Oranje Canal near Wezuperbrug. Of particular note in this village are the enormously high canal walls. Through the canal, you cycle on to museum village Orvelte. Orvelte is also called the "Primal Village" of Drenthe. Here you will experience history first hand! The forge, clogmaker and dairy are still in regular use. Here you will still find the old village pub, cozy restaurants and the cute candy shop of yesteryear. Like stepping into the past.

After passing through Orvelte, continue cycling toward Westerbork. Just before you reach Westerbork, turn toward the village of Elp, where you will have the opportunity to have a nice lunch. After Elp, cycle through the Orvelte field and the sheep park (moorland) back to Ees. On the way to the hotel you will have the opportunity to visit the Ceramic Garden gallery Harwi before the sheep park. This is a spacious sculpture garden that you can view for free.

Overnight stay in Ees

Van Gogh route ( 58 km)

"Drente is so beautiful, that if I could not be here forever, I would rather not have seen it. It is indescribably beautiful".

Vincent van Gogh wrote this text to his brother Theo during his time in Drenthe. The Van Gogh route begins with the beautiful Valtherbos. There are numerous burial mounds and three dolmens here. In downtown Emmen, you have plenty of opportunities to stop in for a delicious cup of coffee. You will then cycle through Parc Sandur towards the southern part of Emmen; the Rietlanden. Here you will find the beautifully landscaped recreational lake De Grote Rietplas. From here, cycle on to New Amsterdam. In New Amsterdam, you will find the Van Gogh House. Here Vincent van Gogh lived for several months and created several famous paintings, such as "The Little Church of Zweeloo," "The Drawbridge of New Amsterdam" and "The Train Barge. It is definitely worth taking a look there! From New-Amsterdam you will cycle through the Ermerstrand and the old Benneveld, towards 'Het Kerkje van Zweeloo'. After the fens of Odoorn, cycle back to the hotel.

Overnight stay in Ees