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 Beilencorner. 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 A28 from 10:00 to 17:00 from 1 April to 1 November and during all school vacations. 1 November - 1 April Oldendiever at a glance Lheebroek Monday-Tuesday closed. For more Dieverbrug information and the current opening Addresses hours, please visit our website. SECRETARIAT REGIONAAL LANDSCHAP Dwingeloo TER HORSTER ADDRESS 22 Benderse, 7963 RA DRENTS-FRIESE GRENSSTREEK ZAND Ruinen; tel. + 31(0)522-472 951 PO Box 122, 9400 AC Assen. Lheebroeker Ecoduct Wittelte Lhee zand T: +31(0)592-365555; E: dwingelder- 2 Natuurpoort in Spier [email protected]; I: www.nationaal- Havezathe This is the ideal starting point park-dwingelderveld.nl Oldengaerde Natuurpoort Spier – with plenty of parking space – STAATSBOSBEHEER Lheeder Zand for your excursions through the 2a Achter ‘t Zaand, 7991 NG Spier Dwingelderveld. At the Natuurpoort Dwingeloo. T +31(0)521-596600; I: Noordenveld 2 Wijsteryour children can play to their hearts’ www.staatsbosbeheer.nl Radiotelescope content. The Boslounge is your go-to NATUURMONUMENTEN Familypath for a snack or a drink, as well as 22 Benderse, 7963 RA Ruinen. T: Noordenveld maps and leaflets. +31(0)522-472951; I: www.natuurmo- Bird Observation Hide OPENING HOURS Open every day numenten.nl Dwingeloosche Heide Holtveen during high-season, you may go to NP DWINGELDERVELD Bird Observation Wall restaurant Van der Valk if closed. ADDRESS 12 Oude Postweg, Anserdennen 9417 TG Spier; tel. +31(0)593 564800 Kraloërheide LEGENDA Bicycle path (paved - Main structure) National Park Dwingelderveld is part Theehuys Anserdennen Parking lot Benderse of a network of 20 national parks in Day recreation area Dog discharge area The Netherlands. Ansen Sheepfold 1 Tourist information Visitor centre Tomb hill View Dwingelderveld Pesse Olde Posthuus Café / Lunchroom Watchtower Twitter about the Dwingelderveld: Juniper Use #Dwingelderveld. Please send Forest Heather any questions or comments to Grassland (partial reservation) @Dwingelderveld or Fieldland (partial reservation) Drift sand @BCDwingelderveld Ruinen Water 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 With a horse and cart at the horizon the medieval church spire of Ruinen. This commission) and Natuurmonumenten (Dutch society for There is a bus connection The cycling paths offers a 60 kilometres of signposted magnificent heathland area is the largest and most impor- nature conservation) work together in close collaboration The National Park leaving from the train station virtually unlimited 360 degrees bridleways and routes for tant wet heathland area of Western Europe. Together with to maintain the area. The National Park is also part of the is originally a wet of Beilen, passing Spier (stop view of the heath, without any covered wagons. The other paths its forests and lakes the area was designated a National “Regionaal Landschap Drents-Friese Grensstreek” (in English: heathland. Many paths “Natuurpoort”) and Lhee to buildings obscuring your sight. are not open for riders. Park in 1991 and in 2013 it was added to the List of Natura “The local landscape of the border area between Drenthe and in the area can be very Dwingeloo, crossing the National At the end of the road “Achter 2000, as part of the European Network of most valuable Frisia”), which includes the large nature reserves of the National wet, especially in the Park. From the train stations ’t Zaand” in Lhee, there is a Birdwatching nature reserves of Europe. Park Drents-Friese Wold and the Oerlandschap Holtingerveld. fall and winter. You Hoogeveen and Meppel you can beautiful viewpoint that provides ● Bird hide at the will absolutely need take the bus to Ruinen. It is a 30 a stunning view of the restored Davidsplassen Heath full of life Maintenance wellington boots or minutes’ walk (2 km) through Noordenveld (also accessible ● Bird watching wall along the Erica and common heather are the two most characteristic Of course the heaths are home to Drenthe Heath sheep. They watertight shoes. The beautiful surroundings to the with a wheelchair). A beautiful cycling path alongside the plants inhabiting heathlands. Erica is pink and predominantly eat the grass from between the heath. There are two herds of visitor centre at the visitor centre at the edge of the lookout tower was built on top Holtveen grows on wet soil, whereas common heather turns drier areas these sheep roaming the heath together with their shepherd. Benderse in Ruinen park. In the summer, there is a of the sound barrier along the 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 lends out wellington bus line from Ruinen to the visitor A28 highway which offers a Active in nature gentian and bog asphodel as well as some 220 species of birds, few dozen cattle. Together these animals help keeping the boots for free! centre. For more information beautiful view over the restored ● Nature paper for the 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 areas Dwingelderveld, 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 Holtingerveld and Drents- and the common viper. “plaggen”). The management tries to keep the forests as nl. Natuurpoort in Spier and can Friese Wold with accom- varied and natural as possible. Selective logging facilitates the be reached both walking and panying activities (free of Pine forests spontaneous growth of new forest. Farmlands and grasslands Parking cycling. charge) 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 ● Detailed cycling path of 30 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 km (free of charge) The pine forests are being alternated with patches of juniper Anseres and along the Benderse. the park (see map): ● 70 kilometres of circular ● Annually over 200 nature bushes, intimate patches of heath and small tucked-away ponds. ● At the edge of Ruinen – walking routes have been excursions and activities for Just have a look in the Lheeder and Lheebroeker sand drifts. Drastic changes Outdoor centre “De Poort” at laid out, divided over 14 children The ponds, such as the Zandveen and the Diepveen, are home In the past 10 years, major changes have been implemented, the Kloosterweg routes ● Demonstrations of sheep 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: herding dragonflies. management policy was designed to stimulate the develop- Benderse in Ruinen Family path Spier (2.3 ment of the original, wet moorlands. In the Noordenveld, Accessibility ● At the Natuurpoort in Spier km – start: Natuurpoort Taking your dog 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 In all of the areas: dogs have 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; to remain on a leash. There are 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 three areas where dogs can walk 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) off-leash. In these areas dogs 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 should be well in hand, dogs 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 should not leave the path and 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 shouldn’t swim in the ponds. 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 Always consider other visitors! surrounding Dwingelderveld is also astonishing and a perfect at the visitor centre at the opportunity to spend the day.