{"id":22908,"date":"2025-05-24T21:59:54","date_gmt":"2025-05-24T19:59:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=22908"},"modified":"2025-12-02T16:47:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T15:47:19","slug":"fietsen-door-het-drents-friese-wold-vanuit-landal-hunerwoldstate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/gravel\/fietsen-door-het-drents-friese-wold-vanuit-landal-hunerwoldstate","title":{"rendered":"Cycling through the Drents-Friese Wold from Landal Hunerwoldstate"},"content":{"rendered":"

The north of the Netherlands has a lot of hidden gems and you will find them especially in the National Parks. We already saw that in our 12 provinces - 12 parks tour we did in collaboration with Landal. We shot stunning images in Friesland<\/a>, Groningen<\/a> and Drenthe<\/a>. Now we are following that up, from Landal Hunerwoldstate. The park is in Drenthe, but if you go 1 kilometre west, you are in Friesland. Hunerwoldstate<\/a> lies at the Drents-Friese Wold National Park<\/a>, a beautiful nature reserve. From here you can make beautiful gravel routes, through the Drents-Friese Wold National Park, but also towards Fochtelo\u00ebrveen (another gem) and with a little imagination, De Weerribben and the Dwingelderveld are also within reach. Let's go cycling through the Drents-Friese Wold! By gravel bike, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In front of the house in Hunerwoldstate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Scottish Highlanders - typical in Drenthe!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Peace, space and regularity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As we turn off the A32 at the Havelte exit, we don't notice it yet. We are just above Meppel and this is still relatively busy. Lots of cars, houses and restaurants. The closer we get to Wateren, near 'Hunerwoldstate', the quieter it gets. Villages become smaller. They all have a characteristic 'brink'. In former times, you could find the trinity Church-pub-Rabobank here. Now only the Church remains. The pub is a community centre and the Rabobank left years ago. Here there is peace, space and regularity. And so you'll also find beautiful gravel paths here. Because you know: the less densely populated, the denser the dirt paths are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Drents-Friese Wold National Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Landal Hunerwold State<\/a> is thus right next to the Drents-Friese Wold. For this trip, I asked Mike Gattas (known from De Wielercode) for route help. He lives in Oldeberkoop, as the crow flies a few kilometres away, and knows the region like no other. Soon two beautiful routes rolled into the app group. 65km towards Veenhuizen, via Fochtelo\u00ebrveen and a 59-kilometre route that crosses almost the entire National Park. This is going to be fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Frederiksoord\"
Fredriksoord - the colony<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Gravel route 1 - through the Drents-Friese Wold National Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On Saturday, the sun shines early. There is some activity on the park. Fathers starting their run. Couples walking their dogs. Children in the playground. Although the sun is shining, it is still quite chilly. I was prepared for short-shorts, but I pull out sleeves and my cardigan anyway. The route looks great. I see more than 50% unpaved, little asphalt and judging by the twists and turns in the route, we go through the forest and nature quite often. Enjoy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right at the park I turn onto the first gravel strip. It is turning and turning and within a short time I am in the National Park. Here I take a narrow cycle path, right between forest, heathland, shifting sands and stream valley grasslands. Places like this never cease to amaze me. This just exists in the Netherlands! Meanwhile, we have also crossed the border into Friesland. Nature doesn't care, it remains as beautiful as ever. For the paths you also want to go here: sometimes long 'champagne' gravel, sometimes sandy. Open space, through the forest, undulating, but never really tough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Poah. This is what you want!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Nice wide gravel path in the forest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For the first 30 kilometres of the route, I almost only ride unpaved or on narrow, semi-paved paths through the park and forest. I don't find that at home! Then I ride to the Wapserveensche Aa and we follow a very long stretch along the water. Wide, unpaved, some stray dogs, but really nice gravel! This stretch is six kilometres long. Unprecedented. Pretty soon after that, we turn right towards Vledder and enter the Koloni\u00ebn van Weldadigheid. This is where families were brought to combat poverty since the early 19th century. This also gave rise to the 'unfree' colony Veenhuizen (the prison). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Enjoy! You can see that<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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After Vledder, the route still winds towards Frederiksoord, the heart of the Colonies. Frederiksoord was founded as a colony. Here you will not only find a beautiful lodge but can also grab a coffee, lunch or dinner at POSTEN Nordic<\/a>. Highly recommended. Good to know: along this route you will actually find hardly any catering facilities. So bring plenty of your own! After Frederiksoord you meander through woods and fields and at Zorgvlied we pass a beautiful field of flowers. You see more of these in this area, which is quite special!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Delicious food<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Posts in Frederiksoord<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Colourful interior<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After a little over two hours, I steer back into the park. I can rinse off the bike at reception. Despite the dry weather, there is still some dirt on my chain. Well taken care of and the bike can dry in the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n