CYCLING ROUTE · DRENTHE

Cycling Route Hunze Valley and Peat Colonies

Cycle through the Hunze Valley and Dutch Peat Colonies, where wet meadows, winding streams, canals and wide open fields reveal the contrasting landscapes of eastern Drenthe.

Cycling route through the Hunze Valley and Peat Colonies

The Landscape

The Hunze Valley is a landscape shaped by water. The Hunze flows through a broad valley of wet grasslands, marshes, streams and small nature areas. Higher sandy grounds surround the valley and create a varied landscape of forests, heathlands and traditional farmland.
Further east, the route enters the Dutch Peat Colonies. Here the landscape becomes much more open and linear, with long canals, straight roads and ribbon villages. The pattern of fields and waterways reflects the centuries-old history of peat extraction and agricultural reclamation.

What You'll Discover Along the Way

Forests and heathland in Drenthe

Forests and Heaths

Wooded areas and open heathland on the higher sandy grounds surrounding the Hunze Valley.

Farmland in Drenthe

Polders and Farmlands

Open agricultural landscapes with fields, meadows and historic farmsteads.

Marshes and peatlands

Marshes and Peatlands

Wet valleys, marshes and traces of the peat landscapes that shaped eastern Drenthe.

Streams in the Hunze Valley

Rivers and Streams

The winding Hunze and smaller streams form the natural backbone of the valley.

Virtual Cycling Through the Hunze Valley and the Peat Colonies

Experience the Hunze Valley with its meandering streams, wet meadows, peatland edges and historic esch fields.

Virtual cycling through the Hunze Valley

Experience the route from home with virtual cycling.

Route Map and Cycling Junctions

Start and finish near cycling junction 41 in Borger. Because this is a circular route, you can also start at another junction along the route.
41 88 47 44 45 46 7 1 16 15 13 4 14 26 47 59 50 20 5 2 42 43 41

Route Details

Distance 55 km
Riding time 3 h 39 min
Elevation gain 69 m
Paved 95%
Unpaved / semi-paved 5%
Ideal for E-bikes & city bikes

Along the way: several options for a coffee break or lunch.

Discover More Cycling Routes

Explore more Drenthe landscapes and find your next cycling adventure in nature.

EXPLORE ALL CYCLING ROUTES IN DRENTHE →