Cycling route Mantingerveld and Hoogeveense Venen
Cycle through an ancient landscape of expansive heathlands, a prehistoric forest, drifting sand dunes, and centuries-old juniper scrub.
The Landscape
Thousands of years ago, much of the Hoogeveense Venen consisted of inaccessible raised bogs. Today, you explore a landscape where nature and reclamation alternate, with wet peat remnants, quiet pools, and open views that continually reveal a changing scene. A cycling route rich in space and silence, showcasing Drenthe at its purest.
The Mantingerveld forms the heart of this experience. It is one of the most remarkable heathland areas in Drenthe, where heath, woodland edges, drifting sands, and juniper scrub combine to create a rare, open landscape. In the Hoogeveense Venen, the straight lines of canals, ditches, and roads stand out, traces of peat extraction and the peat-colonial past around Hoogeveen and Hollandscheveld. Along the way, you also pass Boswachterij Gees, with its varied mix of forest, heath, and pools, and a stream valley that has been given space again for water and nature.
What You’ll Discover Along the Way
During this cycling route, you ride through dense forests, open heathlands, and along woodland edges around the Mantingerveld. The contrast between open spaces and sheltered stretches gives this part of the route a natural and tranquil character.
Along the route, traces of land reclamation and historic settlement around Hoogeveen can be seen. Old structures and characteristic buildings tell the story of the landscape and its inhabitants here.
Outside the nature reserves, you cycle through open farmland with meadows and fields. The long sightlines and quiet roads create a clear and relaxed cycling experience.
In the Hoogeveense Venen, you cycle past wet peatlands and small pools. These quiet nature areas make this part of the route especially peaceful and clearly show the influence of water.
Ride along with us on this virtual bike tour
Virtual cycling through the Mantingerveld lets you experience Drenthe as it once was, with open heathland, woodland edges, drifting sands, and characteristic juniper scrub. In the video, you ride along quiet roads and peaceful paths, ideal for training at home on your indoor trainer while truly experiencing the landscape.
Along the way, you also experience the atmosphere of the Hoogeveense Venen, where straight canals and drainage ditches recall the peat industry, and wet peat remnants and pools add extra variety. This gives you a complete picture of this part of Drenthe, perfect as preparation for a real cycling tour around Hollandscheveld and Hoogeveen.
Want to learn more about virtual cycling? THIS IS HOW VIRTUAL CYCLING WORKS
Route map and cycling junctions
Start and finish near cycling junction 14 on the Marten Kuilerweg in Hollandscheveld. Because this is a circular route, you can also start at one of the other cycling junctions along the route.
Distance: 49 km
Estimated riding time: 3 hours 18 minutes
Elevation gain: 104 m
Paved roads: 88%
Unpaved / semi-paved: 12%
Ideal for: e-bikes and city bikes
Along the way: several options for a coffee break or lunch.
