Hiking in Drenthe? Yes, you can! VAM Mountain was previously a place you'd rather not go; a rubbish dump. But with the arrival of three climbs and one descent, it is now the place in Drenthe you must have been once as a cyclist. Indeed, the average gradient on the 4800-centimetre-high 'Col du VAM' is 10%. One of the three routes even has a 150-metre long cobbled section with a gradient of 15%. You're going to feel those calves here! On behalf of Cycling Destination, explorer Nynke Cuperus went to the climb in her native province. Her report speaks volumes!
Text: Nynke Cuperus, photos: Bouke Cuperus
Championship material
It is therefore not surprising that the organisers of the National Cycling Championships and European Cycling Championships (September 2023) chose a route over VAM Mountain in Wijster, Drenthe. None other than Anna van der Breggen and Mathieu van der Poel have already conquered 'Het Dak van Drenthe'. Joop Zoetemelk is also enthusiastic about VAM Mountain. "I think it's formidable how they made that out of a rubbish heap," Holland's last Tour winner told RTV Drenthe.
And we at Cycling Destination couldn't agree more. Because how cool is it that the province Drenthe managed to turn a rubbish dump into such a cycling attraction? But fair is fair, don't expect too much from it either. The Col du VAM certainly does not surpass a day of cycling in the Limburg hills. After all, after cycling up and down a few times, you have seen it.
Great place to practice climbing and descending
Want to prepare for a bike ride abroad? Then this is a great place to get used to climbing and descending. Together, the routes are about 2,100 metres long. So count how many times you need to cycle up for a good workout.
Or see the VAM mountain as a nice addition to a nice round through Drenthe. After all, it really is something different from the flat Netherlands we are used to. From the top you can look for kilometres across the green Drenthe countryside. And it is safe too; there is one-way traffic on the routes.
Wandering across the Dwingelderveld
An ascent of Col du VAM can be combined with the nearby National Park Dwingelderveld. This is the largest interconnected wet heath area in Western Europe; a beautiful nature reserve with woods, shifting sands and fens that should not be missed.
You will find several beautiful cycle paths here, such as the Commissioner Cramerpad that starts with the Forest Lounge in Spier. The cycle path takes you right through the forest, past little fens filled with water lilies and nesting birds. You then follow the road Behind the Zaand and cycle right across the moors where flocks of sheep graze peacefully. A big tip from us is to stop for a coffee and some goodies at the Forest Hub stop. This is a very funny restaurant that reminded us of a kind of cross between an après-ski hut and a riding school.
Orvelte village
Not enough kilometres in your legs yet? Then add monument village Orvelte to your route. This centuries-old village is one of the most beautiful villages in our country, according to readers of the ANWB Kampioen. And we totally understand that, because here you imagine yourself back in time. In Orvelte, you drink coffee overlooking monumental farms and cycle along streets with old cobblestones and cobblestones.
One thing is certain; after this bike ride, you will see that Drenthe has more to offer than just hunebeds. Although you can always take the car over the Hunebed Highway Driving: the Drenthe version of Route 66.
