What’s the fastest way to learn all about the hunebedden? By visiting them all, thought Karin Olfert (29) from Balloërveld. From 18 to 28 July, she and her horse Zula will visit all 52 dolmens in Drenthe.
Hi Karin. Eleven days on horseback along the Drenthe dolmens, how do you get there?
“Good question, I’m still thinking about that myself. It suddenly occurred to me, it was a spontaneous idea. I have been working as an activity coordinator at the Hunebed Center in Borger for three years now and I have sometimes met people who have cycled or even walked past the hunebedden. I wanted to visit more dolmens myself, because I didn’t do that often, but I didn’t like doing it on foot. I wanted to make it more adventurous. Then I came up with the idea of doing it on horseback. Maybe that’s how I get into the skin of a prehistoric man the most, haha! Although the peoples after the hunebed builders only had horses.”
What does the route look like?
“Every day I drive roughly 35 kilometers. I start at the hunebed in Balloo and end in Rolde. I have one rest day in between. On the way I sleep at farm campsites and with acquaintances. I still need to map out the route. Roughly I know, but it’s a bit of a puzzle. There are certain roads that you cannot or cannot cross with a horse. For example, because there is a cattle grid or a fence. I still have to figure that out.”
You will encounter tractors and other traffic along the way. Can Zula handle that?
“Of course. It helps that I’ve had her since she was a foal. She is now five, I bred her myself. She relies a lot on me, so no, I don’t expect traffic to be a problem. There will probably be obstacles, such as viaducts. They are exciting for horses, because of the traffic that rushes under them. But if I stay cool, Zula will also keep a cool head.”
What do you hope to achieve after your journey?
“I want to make a long trip through Europe in a few years, with two horses. The trip along the dolmens is a nice test for this. And I’m curious how the planning of the route will go. Drenthe does not really have long-distance trails for riders, not even along the dolmens. It would be nice if they were there, as they are now for walkers. That is what I am advocating for.”