Cycling route National Park Drents-Friese Wold
Cycling through a diverse natural landscape of dense forests, expansive heathlands, shifting sand drifts, tranquil fens, and lush stream valleys.
The Landscape
Drents-Friese Wold National Park is one of the largest continuous nature reserves in the Netherlands, covering over 6,000 hectares of forest, heathland, fens, shifting sands, and stream valleys. Located on the border of Drenthe and Friesland, this landscape has been shaped for thousands of years by land use and management. Between Diever and Appelscha, traces of cultivation and grazing are still visible, while wind and water continue to sculpt the terrain and its open sandy areas.
The history of Drents-Friese Wold National Park dates back to the Iron Age and is still visible in the landscape, with a hunebed near Diever and burial mounds near Oude Willem and Vledder. What was once a mosaic of arable fields, heathland, and small woodlands where sheep grazed was gradually transformed from the nineteenth century onward, when forests were planted to stabilize drifting sands. Today, you cycle past villages with historic field patterns and tree-lined hedgerows, set within a varied landscape that invites relaxed exploration.
What You’ll Discover Along the Way
During this cycling route, you ride through the extensive forests and open heathlands of the Drents-Friese Wold National Park. The contrast between shaded woodland paths and wide-open heath creates a varied and immersive cycling experience in nature.
Along the edges, the landscape opens into polders and agricultural land. The wide-open views and long sightlines create a calm contrast with the surrounding forests.
In the lower-lying parts, you cycle past fens and wet nature zones. These damp areas give the landscape a natural and sometimes rugged character.
Small streams and waterways wind through the landscape, guiding parts of the route. Their flowing water adds extra life and variety along the way.
Ride along with us on this virtual bike tour
Cycle virtually through a landscape of ever-changing character in the Drents-Friese Wold National Park. Dense woodland paths offer shelter, before the view opens across heathlands and sandy areas with active drifting sands. Along the way, quiet fens, reed beds, and open forest edges add variety, revealing new vistas at every turn.
The stream valleys and tree-lined hedgerows give the area a soft, green character and clearly show how nature and historic cultural landscape intertwine here. This route runs through Drenthe and Friesland and is ideal for those who want to train at home with a true outdoor feel, as well as for cyclists who want to explore the area around Diever in advance.
Want to learn more about virtual cycling? THIS IS HOW VIRTUAL CYCLING WORKS
Route map and cycling junctions
Start and finish near cycling junction 83 on the Terwisscha in Appelscha. Because this is a circular route, you can also start at one of the other cycling junctions along the route.
Distance: 48 km
Estimated riding time: 3 hours 12 minutes
Elevation gain: 56 m
Paved roads: 87%
Unpaved / semi-paved: 13%
Ideal for: e-bikes and city bikes
Along the way: several options for a coffee break or lunch.
