Cycle route World Heritage | Colonies of Benevolence
Veenhuizen, Frederiksoord, Appelscha
During this cycle route from the World Heritage Foundation, you will cycle past the UNESCO World Heritage Colonies of Benevolence. Discover what makes the colonies, also called the 'pauper colonies' at the time, so special. The colonies were founded around 1818 to give poor people from the city work and a better life in the countryside. Things were not very gentle: it became a social experiment where structure, coercion and discipline were the order of the day. From Veenhuizen, you start at the first heritage of the colonies: the National Prison Museum. This interactive museum is also a visitor centre. You can take a tour through Veenhuizen on the old Boevenbus (convict bus). In this bus, prisoners used to be transported between the residential and working institutions. Via the beautiful countryside of the Drents-Friese Wold National Park, you cycle to Frederiksoord. Take a look at the country estate of the same name with Huis Westerbeek and visit the adjacent Museum De Proefkolonie. Here you will discover how Benevolence's first colony came into being, but also why this history remained hidden for so long. This cycle route shows you an impressive piece of Dutch history. The beautiful nature reserves of Drenthe provide a nice variety. Along the way, you will come across a number of watchtowers which, after a short climb, treat you to phenomenal views! Tip: Is 82 kilometres in one day too long for you? Then split the route into two and spend the night halfway. That way you can enjoy the museums and landscapes at your leisure. Photo: ©Miranda Drenth - via UNESCO World Heritage Colonies of Benevolence
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
|
Start: Oude Gracht , 9341 AB Noordenveld | 84.7 KM | |
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From
78
to
63
|
3377 M | 3.4 KM | |
| Head southeast on Oude Gracht | 203 M | ||
| Turn left onto Oude Gracht | 91 M | ||
| Turn right onto Meidoornlaan | 674 M | ||
| Turn right onto Kerklaan | 941 M | ||
| Turn left | 1.5 KM | ||
| You are now at section 63 | 0 M | ||
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From
63
to
64
|
4290 M | 4.3 KM | |
| Head west | 25 M | ||
| Turn left | 40 M | ||
| Turn left | 43 M | ||
| Make a slight left | 4.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 64 | 0 M | ||
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From
64
to
66
|
2477 M | 2.5 KM | |
| Head south on Fochtelooërveen; Fochtelooerveen | 513 M | ||
| Turn left | 2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 66 | 0 M | ||
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From
66
to
75
|
2271 M | 2.3 KM | |
| Head southwest | 2.3 KM | ||
| Make a slight left onto Bokslootsweg | 11 M | ||
| You are now at section 75 | 0 M | ||
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From
75
to
90
|
4100 M | 4.1 KM | |
| Head southwest on Bokslootsweg | 398 M | ||
| Turn right onto Willemstad | 1.9 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Zuideinde | 320 M | ||
| Turn left onto Vaart Noordzijde | 1.5 KM | ||
| You are now at section 90 | 0 M | ||
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From
90
to
96
|
1902 M | 1.9 KM | |
| Head southeast on Vaart Noordzijde | 1.9 KM | ||
| You are now at section 96 | 0 M | ||
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From
96
to
89
|
824 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head south | 9 M | ||
| Continue onto Bovendraai | 10 M | ||
| Continue straight | 6 M | ||
| Turn right onto Vaart Zuidzijde | 132 M | ||
| Turn left onto Tolhekslaan | 667 M | ||
| You are now at section 89 | 0 M | ||
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From
89
to
63
|
6226 M | 6.2 KM | |
| Head west on Drentseweg | 1.9 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Tilgrupsweg | 967 M | ||
| Turn right | 533 M | ||
| Turn left | 829 M | ||
| Turn right onto Tilgrupsweg | 1 KM | ||
| Turn right | 334 M | ||
| Turn left | 605 M | ||
| Turn right onto Oude Willem | 2 M | ||
| You are now at section 63 | 0 M | ||
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From
63
to
39
|
792 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head southwest | 792 M | ||
| You are now at section 39 | 0 M | ||
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From
39
to
61
|
1165 M | 1.2 KM | |
| Head southwest on De Stoevert | 1.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 61 | 0 M | ||
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From
61
to
62
|
757 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head southwest on De Stoevert | 757 M | ||
| You are now at section 62 | 0 M | ||
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From
62
to
68
|
1352 M | 1.4 KM | |
| Head southwest on De Stoevert | 1.4 KM | ||
| You are now at section 68 | 0 M | ||
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From
68
to
59
|
3515 M | 3.5 KM | |
| Head southwest | 592 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 58 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 2.5 KM | ||
| Keep left at the fork | 320 M | ||
| You are now at section 59 | 0 M | ||
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From
59
to
37
|
3831 M | 3.8 KM | |
| Head south on Kerkenkampsweg | 1.5 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Veenhuizerweg | 208 M | ||
| Turn right onto Rollestraat | 16 M | ||
| Turn left onto Smitstede | 63 M | ||
| Make a slight left to stay on Smitstede | 1.1 KM | ||
| Continue straight | 7 M | ||
| Turn right onto Ten Darperweg | 202 M | ||
| Turn left | 90 M | ||
| Turn left onto Bareldsweg | 594 M | ||
| You are now at section 37 | 0 M | ||
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From
37
to
33
|
1999 M | 2 KM | |
| Head south on Wapserauwen | 2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 33 | 0 M | ||
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From
33
to
35
|
3710 M | 3.7 KM | |
| Head north on Heuringsweg | 745 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Heuringsweg | 7 M | ||
| Turn left onto Baeteweg | 690 M | ||
| Turn left | 1.2 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Vledderlanden | 20 M | ||
| Turn left onto Kerkhoflaan | 65 M | ||
| Make a slight right to stay on Kerkhoflaan | 731 M | ||
| Turn right onto Drift | 197 M | ||
| Turn right | 6 M | ||
| You are now at section 35 | 0 M | ||
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From
35
to
71
|
4616 M | 4.6 KM | |
| Head north on Oosteind | 9 M | ||
| Turn left onto Wapserweg | 527 M | ||
| Make a slight left | 1.2 KM | ||
| Turn left | 670 M | ||
| Continue straight | 330 M | ||
| Turn right onto Pastorieweg | 205 M | ||
| Turn right onto Vledderlanden | 1.7 KM | ||
| You are now at section 71 | 0 M | ||
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From
71
to
47
|
746 M | 0.7 KM | |
| Head northwest on Burgemeester Wynoldyweg | 746 M | ||
| You are now at section 47 | 0 M | ||
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From
47
to
49
|
2543 M | 2.5 KM | |
| Head northeast | 6 M | ||
| Continue onto Majoor van Swietenlaan | 417 M | ||
| Turn left onto Koningin Wilhelminalaan | 2.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 49 | 0 M | ||
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From
49
to
48
|
2381 M | 2.4 KM | |
| Head northeast | 9 M | ||
| Continue towards Vledderveen | 815 M | ||
| Turn right onto Reeweg | 74 M | ||
| Keep right onto Reeweg | 936 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Reeweg | 547 M | ||
| You are now at section 48 | 0 M | ||
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From
48
to
25
|
786 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head northwest on Middenweg | 66 M | ||
| Turn right | 720 M | ||
| You are now at section 25 | 0 M | ||
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From
25
to
43
|
2203 M | 2.2 KM | |
| Head northeast on Vledderhofpad | 554 M | ||
| Turn right onto Vledderhofpad | 453 M | ||
| Turn left onto Vledderhofpad | 1.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 43 | 0 M | ||
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From
43
to
12
|
2975 M | 3 KM | |
| Head north on Van Leusenlaan | 2.1 KM | ||
| Turn right | 878 M | ||
| You are now at section 12 | 0 M | ||
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From
12
to
21
|
2540 M | 2.5 KM | |
| Head northeast | 24 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 2.5 KM | ||
| Make a slight right | 5 M | ||
| You are now at section 21 | 0 M | ||
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From
21
to
33
|
1297 M | 1.3 KM | |
| Head northeast on De Ruyter de Wildtlaan | 53 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 970 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto De Ruyter de Wildtlaan | 5 M | ||
| Turn right onto Verwersweg | 14 M | ||
| Turn left onto Dorpsstraat | 255 M | ||
| You are now at section 33 | 0 M | ||
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From
33
to
31
|
763 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head north on Hogeweg | 75 M | ||
| Turn left onto De Monden | 688 M | ||
| You are now at section 31 | 0 M | ||
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From
31
to
86
|
850 M | 0.9 KM | |
| Head east | 278 M | ||
| Turn left | 572 M | ||
| You are now at section 86 | 0 M | ||
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From
86
to
87
|
2183 M | 2.2 KM | |
| Head northeast | 950 M | ||
| Turn right | 1.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 87 | 0 M | ||
|
From
87
to
85
|
1986 M | 2 KM | |
| Head northeast | 1.1 KM | ||
| Turn right | 920 M | ||
| You are now at section 85 | 0 M | ||
|
From
85
to
83
|
1276 M | 1.3 KM | |
| Head north | 494 M | ||
| Turn left | 73 M | ||
| Continue onto Terwisscha | 309 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Terwisscha | 125 M | ||
| Turn right | 140 M | ||
| Continue onto Terwisscha | 135 M | ||
| You are now at section 83 | 0 M | ||
|
From
83
to
79
|
3012 M | 3 KM | |
| Head northeast | 153 M | ||
| Turn left | 8 M | ||
| Continue onto De Maden | 2.3 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Industrieweg | 528 M | ||
| You are now at section 79 | 0 M | ||
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From
79
to
77
|
1487 M | 1.5 KM | |
| Head northeast | 38 M | ||
| Turn right onto Verlaat | 356 M | ||
| Turn left | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 77 | 0 M | ||
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From
77
to
58
|
3360 M | 3.4 KM | |
| Head north on Zuideinde | 2 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Vogelrijd | 981 M | ||
| Turn left | 342 M | ||
| You are now at section 58 | 0 M | ||
|
From
58
to
62
|
1794 M | 1.8 KM | |
| Head northeast | 1.8 KM | ||
| You are now at section 62 | 0 M | ||
|
From
62
to
60
|
1313 M | 1.3 KM | |
| Head northwest on Fochtelooërveen; Fochtelooerveen | 1.3 KM | ||
| You are now at section 60 | 0 M | ||
|
From
60
to
78
|
3964 M | 4 KM | |
| Head northeast on Zandpad | 91 M | ||
| Turn right | 1.1 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Drentseweg | 462 M | ||
| Turn right | 215 M | ||
| Continue straight | 219 M | ||
| Keep left at the fork | 828 M | ||
| Turn left | 22 M | ||
| Turn left | 17 M | ||
| Turn left | 33 M | ||
| Turn right onto Generaal van den Boschweg | 842 M | ||
| Turn left onto Oude Gracht | 111 M | ||
| You are now at section 78 | 0 M |