Emmerdennen

Directions

• Emmen, located on the southern tip of the Hondsrug, about 30 meters above sea level, was first mentioned in 1139. The many dolmens and burial mounds found in and around Emmen show that the area was already inhabited in ancient times. In 1228, Emmen was burnt down by the army of the bishop of Utrecht, Willebrandt van Oldenburg (1227-1233), to avenge the defeat of his predecessor Otto II of Lippe in the battle of Ane (in Overijssel), the previous year. Otto II was defeated by the Knights of the City of Coevorden and their army of Drenthen. Emmen started growing during the rise of the peat industry, before developing into the industrial centre of Southeast Drenthe after the Second World War.
• You’ll pass the Nabershof, a Saxon farm founded in 1681, making it the only Saxon farm in Emmen dating back to this period. Behind the Nabershof museum farm lies a long barrow. Dolmen D43, with D referring to Drenthe, is the only long barrow in the Netherlands. In fact, the long barrow consists of two dolmens, each with a separate entrance, girdled by a wreath of stones.
• After marvelling at the long barrow, you’ll continue your hike to the next megalith. This small dolmen, D41, was still fully preserved when it was found in its burial mound in 1809. It was investigated by renowned Dutch archaeologist Van Giffen in 1960, after which it was restored.
• You’ll now find yourself gradually leaving the buildings of Emmen behind, as you enter the Valtherbos, which is one of Drenthe’s oldest forests, together with the Emmerdennen. These diverse forests are situated on high-relief sand drifts. In the Valtherbos, you’ll even find remnants of Drenthe’s immense heathlands. One of these heaths is home to three dolmens: D38, D39 and D40. A fourth dolmen was once located near D39. On the eastern side, towards the cycle path, medieval cart tracks can still be seen in the heath, marking the old ‘highway’ that connected the cities of Coevorden and Groningen. Opposite the cycle path, you can see several round hillocks in the forest, marking the first burial mounds you’ll encounter on the trail.
• Leaving the Valtherbos, you’ll continue your hike to Emmerdennen, a hilly landscape home to a varied selection of trees. Two-thirds of the forest is surrounded by Emmen. Initially, the trail will pass through a group of burial mounds, before continuing along the yellow-capped posts of the Staatsbosbeheer trail that will take you past the most beautiful spots in the Emmerdennen. The forest also boasts several lakes, including het Appeltje, a round lake named after… you guessed it - an apple! You’ll also find the Haantjesduin in Emmerdennen, the highest natural point in Drenthe, as well as the entire Hondsrug, the only geopark in the Netherlands.
• The trail continues to dolmen D45, one of the most beautiful of its kind in Drenthe. Remarkably, some claim they can see the image of a hand on one of the capstones of the D45 dolmen, with others labelling it a horseshoe. In 1809, King Louis Napoleon visited Drenthe and toured its many dolmens with the Governor of Drenthe, Petrus Hofstede. The story goes that when Louis Napoleon first glimpsed the dolmen, he raced out ahead of the pack, climbed the megalith with his horse and stood there waiting for his companions, doing his best to resemble a horseman statue.
• Eventually, you’ll find yourself returning to the centre of Emmen. On the Stationsstraat, you’ll come across Stolpersteine (Stumbling Stones). These concrete stones measure 10x10cm and are topped with brass commemorative plates, engraved with the deceased’s names, dates of birth and dates and places of death.
• Make the most of your time in Emmen and pass by the Emmen district court, one of the country’s official district courts from 1877 to 2014. The courthouse dates from approx. 1840 and is now a national monument.
• The ‘Emmerdennen’ trail has now come to an end. Sit back and relax in one of the many great local cafés or restaurants and look back on this stunning hike.