How do you celebrate a birthday of a hiking trail? Not with cake, but with kilometers. The Drenthepad has been in existence for 50 years and the walk through Drenthe ‘Dijt’ with more than 30 kilometers out to 361 kilometers.
In 1975 the Drenthepad was the first post -war long -distance walk in the Netherlands. The path then bore the name Nivonpad, to the manager of the route. At the time it was an A-to-B walk and walked from Noordlaren to Havelte. The Drenthepad emerged from this in 1996, where the route made the cover to a walk of 296 kilometers. In the following years, the path became longer and longer.
With the 50th anniversary at the door, the route maps were once again grabbed and tightened. With more kilometers on certain stages as an additional bonus. “Less asphalt and more nature,” explains hiking trail coordinator Luc Schepers for which it was chosen. “For that we had to adjust the routes in certain areas.” What contributed to the extra kilometers, among other things.
In the past two years, Schepers and twenty volunteers have bent over the process. Similarly Hans de la Mar, who manages the stage over the Heiderijke Holtingerveld as a volunteer. “In the new setup, hikers walk over the 18 meter high Havelterberg. Moreover, you now also pass two hunebeds and bomb craters from the Second World War. The Germans wanted to construct an airport here.” Beautiful new chapters for the book called Drenthepad, according to De la Mar.
He has been a volunteer for four years now. “During walks I sometimes lost my way. So you immediately know how important good signage is. It’s fun work. I often come across walkers who extensively tell what they have all seen.”
It is no surprise that his own part for the La Mar is the most beautiful part of the route. “I’ve been 50 times that Havelterberg. Every time I’m at the top, I take a picture.”
Around Eelde there is a true pearls of beautiful estates and country houses. Until now, the Drentheroute walked around with an arc. “Previously we walked through the eastern Polder Lappenvoort. But due to the construction of a water storage in that area, it is no longer suitable for walkers.” After consultation with the owners, the path now runs through the chic estate belt.
The Drenthepad was the most expanded in the far north of Drenthe: at the marshy Onanden. Walkers used to walk by and also about asphalt too. But now the route runs straight through it: over dikes and along the Leekstereer. “When you come here for the first time and you hear the Roerdomp, then your day can’t go wrong,” laughs coordinator Schepers.
From heaths and estates, to vast swamp areas such as the Onlanden: the Drenthepad offers the walker a patchwork of alternating landscapes. And that is the trump card that must ensure literally more floors, according to Schepers. “We would like to tell the story of Drenthe and let all the landscapes be discussed.”
Every year 8,500 walkers walk the Drenthepad. Schepers: “We expect to grow to 10,000 or 11,000 runners. But that is not a main goal in itself.” And what does Schepers think the most beautiful stage? “Ha ha, for me the path consists of 361 beautiful pieces.”