1 Dwingelderveld Visitor centre The visitor centre is located at the south side of the National Park. The centre will provide you with informa- tion about the heathland, it houses a 1 2 shop with local products and books on nature, as well as a cosy coffee corner. There is a lot to do for the kids outside! The visitor centre is the ideal starting point for all your explorations of the heathland. OPENING HOURS: open every day The Dwingelderveld from 10:00 to 17:00 from 1 April to 1 November and during all school vacations. 1 November - 1 April at a glance Monday-Tuesday closed. For more information and the current opening Addresses hours, please visit our website. SECRETARIAT REGIONAAL LANDSCHAP ADDRESS: 22 Benderse, 7963 RA DRENTS-FRIESE GRENSSTREEK, Ruinen; tel. + 31(0)522-472 951 PO Box 122, 9400 AC Assen. T: +31(0)592-365555; E: dwingelder- 2 Natuurpoort in Spier [email protected]; I: www.nationaal- This is the ideal starting point park-dwingelderveld.nl – with plenty of parking space – STAATSBOSBEHEER, 2a Achter ‘t Zaand, for your excursions through the 7991 NG Dwingeloo. T +31(0)521- 2 Dwingelderveld. At the Natuurpoort 596600; I: www.staatsbosbeheer.nl your children can play to their hearts’ NATUURMONUMENTEN, 22 Benderse, content. The Boslounge is your go-to 7963 RA Ruinen. T: +31(0)522-472951; for a snack or a drink, as well as I: www.natuurmonumenten.nl maps and leaflets. OPENING HOURS: Open every day during high-season, you may go to restaurant Van der Valk if closed. ADDRESS: 12 Oude Postweg, 9417 TG Spier; tel. +31(0)593 564800 National Park Dwingelderveld is part of a network of 20 national parks in The Netherlands. 1 Twitter about the Dwingelderveld: Use #Dwingelderveld. Please send any questions or comments to @Dwingelderveld or @BCDwingelderveld Colophon Graphic design and cartography: Province of Drenthe Text and photography: Province of Drenthe, Staatsbosbeheer and Natuurmonumenten © Secretariat Regionaal Landschap Drents-Friese Grensstreek, 2017 Just imagine, an almost endless stretch of heathland, with In the Dwingelderveld, Staatsbosbeheer (Dutch forestry Wet area Public transport Viewpoints Birdwatching at the horizon the medieval church spire of Ruinen. This commission) and Natuurmonumenten (Dutch society for The National Park There is a bus connection The cycling paths offers a ● Bird hide at the magnificent heathland area is the largest and most impor- nature conservation) work together in close collaboration is originally a wet leaving from the train station virtually unlimited 360 degrees Davidsplassen tant wet heathland area of Western Europe. Together with to maintain the area. The National Park is also part of the heathland. Many paths of Beilen, passing Spier (stop view of the heath, without any ● Bird watching wall along the its forests and lakes the area was designated a National “Regionaal Landschap Drents-Friese Grensstreek” (in English: in the area can be very “Natuurpoort”) and Lhee to buildings obscuring your sight. cycling path alongside the Park in 1991 and in 2013 it was added to the List of Natura “The local landscape of the border area between Drenthe and wet, especially in the Dwingeloo, crossing the National At the end of the road “Achter Holtveen 2000, as part of the European Network of most valuable Frisia”), which includes the large nature reserves of the National fall and winter. You Park. From the train stations ’t Zaand” in Lhee, there is a nature reserves of Europe. Park Drents-Friese Wold and the Oerlandschap Holtingerveld. will absolutely need Hoogeveen and Meppel you can beautiful viewpoint that provides Active in nature wellington boots or take the bus to Ruinen. It is a 30 a stunning view of the restored ● Nature paper for the Heath full of life Maintenance watertight shoes. The minutes’ walk (2 km) through Noordenveld (also accessible areas Dwingelderveld, Erica and common heather are the two most characteristic Of course the heaths are home to Drenthe Heath sheep. They visitor centre at the beautiful surroundings to the with a wheelchair). A beautiful Holtingerveld and Drents- plants inhabiting heathlands. Erica is pink and predominantly eat the grass from between the heath. There are two herds of Benderse in Ruinen visitor centre at the edge of the lookout tower was built on top Friese Wold with accom- grows on wet soil, whereas common heather turns drier areas these sheep roaming the heath together with their shepherd. lends out wellington park. In the summer, there is a of the sound barrier along the panying activities (free of purple. The area is also home to rarities such as the marsh There is a third herd grazing in a fenced-off area, just like a boots for free! bus line from Ruinen to the visitor A28 highway which offers a charge) gentian and bog asphodel as well as some 220 species of birds, few dozen cattle. Together these animals help keeping the centre. For more information beautiful view over the restored ● Detailed cycling path of 30 dozens of species of butterflies and almost all Dutch reptiles. heath nice and open. This maintenance is supplemented with about public transport, please call graben covered with heath. The km (free of charge) The most common species are the crane, the silver studded blue occasional mowing and removal of the topsoil (the so-called 0900-9292, or go to www.9292ov. tower is situated at 1.3 km from ● Annually over 200 nature and the common viper. “plaggen”). The management tries to keep the forests as nl. Natuurpoort in Spier and can excursions and activities for varied and natural as possible. Selective logging facilitates the be reached both walking and children Pine forests spontaneous growth of new forest. Farmlands and grasslands Parking cycling. ● Demonstrations of sheep From the end of the 19th century on, the heathland in the north- are maintained extensively, in a way that is good for the plants There is sufficient parking space herding eastern part of the current National Park has been a forestland. and animals that live there. Have a look at the Ruineres and the along the main routes leading to Walking The pine forests are being alternated with patches of juniper Anseres and along the Benderse. the park (see map): ● 70 kilometres of circular Taking your dog bushes, intimate patches of heath and small tucked-away ponds. ● At the edge of Ruinen – walking routes have been ● In all of the areas: dogs have Just have a look in the Lheeder and Lheebroeker sand drifts. Drastic changes Outdoor centre “De Poort” at laid out, divided over 14 to remain on a leash. There The ponds, such as the Zandveen and the Diepveen, are home In the past 10 years, major changes have been implemented, the Kloosterweg routes are three areas where dogs to water birds such as the little grebe and many species of aimed at the sustainable recovery of the heathland. The water Tips ● At the visitor centre at the ● 2 paved walking paths: can walk off-leash. In these dragonflies. management policy was designed to stimulate the develop- Benderse in Ruinen Family path Spier (2.3 areas dogs should be well ment of the original, wet moorlands. In the Noordenveld, Accessibility ● At the Natuurpoort in Spier km – start: Natuurpoort in hand, dogs should not What is a National Park? Kloosterveld and the Anserveld, the fertilised topsoil has been The National Park Dwingelderveld – close to exit 29 of the A28 in Spier) and Family path leave the path and shouldn’t National parks are part of a world-wide network of impor- partially removed in order to give the plants and animals of the is situated in between the villages of highway Noordenveld (1.5 – 2.5 km; swim in the ponds. Always tant nature reserves that received a special quality label. The heathland more space. Currently, marsh gentians and erica are Ruinen, Dwingeloo and Spier. You ● At the swimming pool of start: parking area Achter ’t consider other visitors! Netherlands counts twenty national parks. The main task of a in bloom everywhere. Ponds and grabens that were filled up in can access the Dwingelderveld via Dwingeloo at the Anserpad Zaand) National Park is maintaining and developing nature. Not just for the past have been excavated again. The asphalt road that used these villages. ● Parking place “Achter ’t ● Nordic Walking-route of Ticks ourselves, but also for future generations. You are very welcome to run right through the centre of the heath was changed into a Zaand” at the Family path 12.4 km long. Start at visitor In the outdoors there are to explore the area by bike, using the many cycling paths, by foot beautiful cycling path. This has enormously benefited the peace and only 300 metres from the centre Dwingelderveld ticks that might carry a virus or on horseback and to pay a visit to our visitor centres. The area and quiet in the area. The cranes are happy with it! sheep pen ● Trail run routes starting or bacteria. Therefore do not surrounding Dwingelderveld is also astonishing and a perfect at the visitor centre at the walk through bushes or other opportunity to spend the day. Benderse (23 km) and the vegetation with bare arms and Dwingeloo swimming pool legs. Use an insect repellent. (15 km) Check your body for ticks and remove any you might find using By bike tweezers or special tick tweezers. ● 40 kilometres of cycling paths ● ANWB-cycling route from the station of Hoogeveen Visit www.nationaalpark- (41 km) dwingelderveld.nl for current ● Various ATB-routes information about activities and developments. With a horse and cart 60 kilometres of signposted bridleways and routes for covered wagons.