Best long trails in Bourtanger Moor-Bargerveen Nature Park
The relatively new nature park is located between the districts of Emsland, Grafschaft Bentheim and the Dutch province of Drenthe and was established in 2016. It covers 140 square kilometres.
Until it was cultivated in the mid-19th century, it was still a continuous raised bog, but it is now a mosaic of different landscapes: fields and pastures, sand, heath, moor and peat bloom in different colours depending on the season. Settlement, peat extraction and agricultural use have changed the region and offer visitors a variety of discovery tours in the natural and cultural landscape. What they all have in common is the character of the moors, which is still present in the places that have been heavily altered by man: the expanse of land, elongated settlements and canals.
In the eight moorland museums, such as the Emsland Moormuseum in Groß Hesepe or the Erdöl-Erdgas-Museum in Twist, you can find out about the history and characteristics of the nature park. There are also educational and adventure trails, which should particularly appeal to families with children. From the viewing platforms, you can gaze out over the surrounding area.
Top sights
Top trails
- 4.4 (21)·Moderate·13.4 km·Est. 2.5–3 hrCircular trail around the Meerstalblok, part of the Bargerveen nature reserve. Trail around the Meerstalblok, an area that is part of the Bargerveen. The nature reserve is a high moor area filled with water, rare plants and many birds. This route goes all around the Meerstalblok. It is the only remnant of the former Bourtanger swamp. The trail provides almost constant views over the many bodies of water in the area, especially on the stretches on top of the dikes. Highlights of this...
- 4.3 (15)·Moderate·10 km·Est. 2–2.5 hrAmsterdamsche Veld and Meerstalblok are part of the Bargerveen nature reserve. They are raised bog areas, much of which has been excavated in the Amsterdamsche Veld. Here you also walk past the sheepfold. Via viewpoint De Bult, you walk to the edge of Meerstalblok. This peat area was never excavated and is now a protected nature reserve. Many special flowers and plants grow here.
- 4.1 (6)·Easy·10.3 km·Est. 2–2.5 hrThe Wollegras Trail runs from the sheepfold to various viewpoints in the Bargerveen. This is the Wollegras Trail, a hiking trail through nature reserve Bargerveen starting from the sheepfold. Bargerveen is a unique nature reserve with one of the few remaining raised bog areas in the Netherlands. The raised bog and wetlands create a bog-like environment where many plants and birds feel at home. The Wollegras Trail leads to the various viewpoints of the Bargerveen, such as the view hills...
- 4.2 (10)·Moderate·10.8 km·Est. 2–2.5 hrHiking trail through the unique peat and marsh area Bargerveen. In the past, almost half of the Netherlands consisted of peat areas. The vast majority of this was excavated for the extraction of peat. The Bargerveen is a unique area that has been spared, in which a good picture can be formed of the original nature of the Netherlands. The peat soils of the Bargerveen are an excellent breeding ground for countless rare plants and birds. This trail runs on unique paths between the waters,...
- 5.0 (3)·Moderate·21.9 km·Est. 4.5–5 hrLovely round trip cycling from Klazienaveen around the Bargerveen nature reserve. A nice nature route, riding right through the moors and along the waters. You go around the Meerstalblok and through the Amsterdamsche Veld. You drive straight to the German border and pass several bird-watching huts. The route also works well as an extended running route.
- 4.5 (5)·Moderate·11.9 km·Est. 2.5–3 hrCircular walk through Bargerveen, past its many fens, through marshes and heathlands. At the Amsterdamse Veld, about halfway along the walking route, the route makes a diversion to walk through the field to the sheepfold, cowshed and restaurant. This part of the route can easily be skipped should you wish, shortening the walking route by 3 kilometres.
- 4.8 (6)·Moderate·16.7 km·Est. 3.5–4 hrExtensive tour of the southern part of the Bargerveen nature reserve. The Bargerveen consists of the Amsterdamsche Veld, the Meerstalblok and the Schoonebeekerveld. Of the raised bog areas, only the Amsterdamsche Veld has been excavated. The area is a source of special plants and animals. During this walk, you walk right past the village of Weiteveen and the sheepfold to the southern part of the area. You walk along the edge, between the waters and around the Amsterdamsche Veld.
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