Hiking trip: Walking from Rolde to Ommen - 7 days

Travel to the picturesque Drenthe esdorp Rolde on your own. If you arrive early enough and still have energy after your journey, take a look at the hunebedden!

Near the start of this stage in Rolde, you'll see two of the most famous dolmens in Drenthe. After admiring these megalithic tombs, continue through the beautiful Drentsche Aa National Park, an ancient landscape created by human and natural collaboration. Walk through the Drouwener field, a stunning area with heaths, forests, and fens. Here, Drenthe's characteristic sheep graze, and you might even encounter imposing Highland cattle! The last stretch goes through a lovely forest area, eventually arriving in the village of Schoonloo.

Leaving the Drentsche Aa via the Schoonloo forestry, you enter the Sleenerzand forests. During a delightful walk, you will find a nearly 26-ton erratic boulder from the last ice age, just off the route. Further in the beautiful Sleenerzand, you'll pass the 'Pieterpad monument', erected in honor of its creators, and other historical sites like the 'Celtic Fields' and the burial mound field the 'Galgenberg'. If you deviate from the route slightly, you can visit Dolmen 49 before heading to picturesque Sleen.

Before leaving Sleen, one of the most authentic brink villages in Drenthe, visit the restored village pump and windmill ‘De Hoop’. Continue through the beautiful Drenthe landscape with its typical farms and green pastures. Stop in the 'whisky' hamlet Den Hool or the nearby peat village Dalerveen for a coffee break. If you have energy left, visit the castle in Coevorden, which has a tumultuous history due to its location between the Hanseatic cities of Münster and Groningen.

Leaving 'goose city' Coevorden, you enter the beautiful nature of the ‘Poort van Drenthe’, marked by a stone artwork of the same name. You exit Drenthe and enter the province of Overijssel, following the valley of the Overijsselse Vecht river. In Gramsbergen, admire the picturesque old town with beautifully restored houses and the bronze statue of 'Pieterpad' walkers. Continue the route, passing the hamlet of Ane and through the England forest, located in an old meander of the river Vecht. Finally, end the day in Hardenberg.

On the trail, first walk along the 'Molengoot', an old course of the river Vecht. Enjoy the subsequent natural beauty in the Rheezermaten, a protected nature reserve. Then visit the beautiful village of Rheeze, with its history dating back to the Middle Ages. This protected village has plenty to see. Enjoy walking through the Hardenberg forest and along the banks of the rivers Vecht and Beneden-Regge. The route continues over the Junne estate, eventually ending in the lively town of Ommen.

After breakfast, the second part of the Pieterpad ends here for you.