Dolmens & Drents Museum

Drenthe is the dolmen country of the Netherlands, and from Bed & Wijn at De Kasteelhoeve in IJhorst that fascinating past is easy to reach. For anyone who loves history and archaeology, the dolmens along the Hondsrug ridge and the Drents Museum in Assen together make for an unforgettable day out. In a single day you travel from prehistory to the world-famous bog bodies, returning in the evening to your suite for a quiet close with a glass of wine.

Prehistoric giants of stone

Scattered across Drenthe lie dozens of dolmens: impressive prehistoric burial monuments, built from enormous boulders by the first farmers of our region some five thousand years ago. Those boulders were carried here from Scandinavia by the land ice during the ice age and were left behind in the Drenthe landscape. How the Funnelbeaker culture moved and stacked those enormous stones without modern aids still captures the imagination and makes every dolmen a small marvel of human labour.

The Hunebedcentrum in Borger

The largest dolmen in the Netherlands is found near Borger, where the Hunebedcentrum brings the story behind these enigmatic structures to life. With exhibitions, an outdoor park and the imposing dolmen itself within walking distance, it is an educational and enjoyable outing for young and old. Children discover through play how Stone Age people lived, while you yourself are struck by the scale of these monuments thousands of years old.

The dolmens along the Hondsrug

Most of the dolmens lie on and around the Hondsrug, an elongated sandy ridge stretching from Emmen to beyond Groningen. Between the villages you follow a route from one dolmen to the next, often hidden beneath old oaks or in the middle of open fields. If you like, you can turn it into a fine cycling or walking tour and experience prehistory right in the heart of the Drenthe landscape, with plenty of space and peace along the way.

The Drents Museum in Assen

If you want to delve even deeper into history, head to the Drents Museum in Assen. This handsome museum is known for its archaeological masterpieces — think of the world-famous bog bodies and bog finds, preserved for centuries by the oxygen-poor peat — and for changing exhibitions of international standing. The combination of archaeology, fine art and special exhibitions makes the museum a highlight, even in less fine weather.

Suitable for the whole family

A day of dolmens and museum is an outing that works for all ages. Outside, children clamber along the stone giants and there is plenty of room to run, while inside the Hunebedcentrum and the Drents Museum bring history to life with interactive displays. That way you combine learning and experiencing in a relaxed way.

Combining culture and nature

A day of dolmens and museum combines beautifully with the nature of Drenthe, such as the nearby Dwingelderveld or the vast heath and woods. There are plenty of other destinations along the route too. That way you effortlessly alternate culture and the outdoors into a richly filled day.

Back to the farmstead

After a day full of history you return to your suite at Bed & Wijn in the Reest valley. Take a look at the available dates and close the day with a glass of wine, while the impressions of five thousand years of history settle quietly.