Geopark De Hondsrug

The area

The Boshuisje is located in peaceful Eeserveen, on the edge of the UNESCO Global Geopark De Hondsrug.

Hunebed bij het Hunebedcentrum in Borger

The area is characterised by forests, heathland, peatland and charming Drenthe village greens. From the cabin you walk or cycle straight into nature on an extensive network of trails. Five minutes away by car is Harwi Ceramics, a sculpture garden and lunchroom in Eeserveen. In Borger you'll find the Hunebedcentrum with the largest dolmen in the Netherlands, and in Exloo the sheepfold with Drenthe heath sheep. With children, head for the sabre-tooth trail and the gnome path near Exloo, the treetop walk in Drouwen, the Drouwenerzand amusement park and Wildlands zoo in Emmen. Swim at the Gasselterveld, 't Nije Hemelriek or 't Loomeer near Schoonloo. For a quiet day with a view, climb the lookout tower beside restaurant Poolshoogte in the Odoorn forest.

Zwemplas in het GasselterveldFoto: Gouwenaar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Vennetje in het GasselterveldFoto: Gouwenaar, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Het landschap van de Drentsche AaFoto: Jiří Komárek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Het Boomkroonpad bij DrouwenFoto: Corradox, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tips nearby

Great places to walk

Straight out the door into the forest, or a short drive to a special route.

Sheepfold Exloo

10 min

A flock of Drenthe heath sheep that heads onto the moor every day. Lovely to watch them set out.

Treetop walk Drouwen

17 min

Walk 22 metres up among the tree canopy, with an underground root tunnel.

Wolf trail Schoonloo

9 min

A trail through the Schoonloo forest where wolves roam again. Along the way you learn to read their tracks.

Good with children

From treasure hunts in the woods to a day of roller coasters and animals.

Sabre-tooth trail

10 min

A playful 2 kilometre trail through the Hunzebos near Exloo, following the tracks of the sabre-toothed tiger. Starts at Leewal pool.

Gnome trail Exloo

10 min

A short, enchanting forest path where little ones can hunt for gnomes among the trees.

Drouwenerzand

15 min

Amusement park with roller coasters, water rides and a large indoor play area.

Climbing park Grolloo

15 min

Climbing and zip lining among the trees, for children and adults.

Wildlands Emmen

21 min

Zoo with jungle, savannah and polar areas. A full day out, rain or shine.

Swimming

Clear water with sandy beaches, all within fifteen minutes.

Leewal open-air pool

10 min

Heated outdoor pool in Exloo with a slide and a lawn. Perfect after a day of cycling.

Gasselterveld

17 min

Clear swimming water with a sandy beach, surrounded by forest and heathland.

't Nije Hemelriek

16 min

Quiet natural lake near Gasselte, perfect for a refreshing dip after a walk.

't Loomeer

10 min

Free swimming lake near Schoonloo with a sandy beach, picnic spots and a kiosk. Dogs are not allowed here.

Culture, art and good food

Dolmens, a sculpture garden around the corner and a terrace with a view.

Harwi Ceramics

5 min

A 20,000 m2 sculpture garden, gallery and lunchroom, just up the road in Eeserveen. Free entry and dogs welcome on a lead.

Hunebedcentrum Borger

12 min

The largest dolmen in the Netherlands, with a museum on the Funnelbeaker culture and the ice age landscape.

Ellert en Brammert

8 min

Open-air museum in Schoonoord about life in the Drenthe peatlands, with sod huts and a sheepfold.

Poolshoogte

5 min

Restaurant with a terrace in the Odoorn forest, beside an 18 metre lookout tower. Three walking routes start at the car park.