Uffelte, Havelte, Holtinge

Choose this beautiful, relatively short route to look for the Hunebedden around Havelte. Cross the Dwingeloosche Heide, also known as the Dwingelderveld. This is the last great wet heathland in the Netherlands. Indeed, it is the most important wet heathland area in continental Europe. Cycling through it, you will notice why it is a 'wet heath'; over sixty pools, fens and bogs are hidden among the heather flowers.

From this special nature reserve, you cycle through the edge of the woods to the first village: Ansen. A real ash tree village, recognisable by the farms that stand together on the village green. Adjacent to the village are the wide, communal fields and the neatly enclosed country estate Rheebruggen.

Near Havelte, you pass the famous Hunebedden, which are special for several reasons. For one, these dolmens are the only ones in the Netherlands that have been removed from their place. This happened in the last year of World War II: the stones of hunebed D53 were dug into a deep pit near the original site of the hunebed in 1945, because the German occupation had built an airfield. The airfield was eventually bombed to pieces. The remnants of the war can still be seen in the area. Hunebed D54 was also covered with sand during World War II. In 1947, the stones of both hunebeds were excavated again, restored and put together.

Of course, the hunebeds go back much further in history. Such mysterious phenomena in the 'middle of nowhere', you can imagine that the wildest stories about them have been created over the centuries. For instance, there is a folk tale about the ‘Spinning wives of Wapserveen. Add dismounting to the route and discover the story. The prehistoric structures are in the middle of the Holtingerveld nature reserve. End your route with a delightful trip through nature!