Hoogeveen Off The Beaten Path

The Jews were also buried at the cementery of the Grote Kerk, before buying their own piece of land to bury their dead. This cementary ground used to be part of the Grote Kerk. At the north side of this church, murderes, thiefs and other scum were burried. At the western part the Christian Cementary was achieved, of course as close as possible to the church itself. The ground assigned to the Jews was the most southern outlying part of the territory, not very popular by the Christians anyway.

This very old cementary doesn't show much of what it used to be. It just seems to be a small lawn with a green metal pilinwork surrounding it. Although just 2 tombstones are visible, its proven that everywhere beneath the grass Jews are burried. Rough calculations about the size of a grave in the late 18th century and documents about funerals in those days, make an estimate of about 210 graves at this Israelitish Cementery! It’s very difficult to realize this once you’re in front of the metal pilinwork.

Directions
At the crossing of Van Echtenstraat and Wilhelminastraat in the city centre.

Several Jewish cemeteries have been founded since the first Jews settled in the Netherlands in the 16th century. Some of them have grown to be huge monuments of a once lively community. One the most well-known is Beth Haim in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. Jews have been buried there since the year 1614, making it the oldest Jewish cemetery in the Netherlands. Just south east of the Grote Kerk, you'll still find the first Jewish Cementary of Hoogeveen, or "Smousenkerkhof" as people used to call it in the old days.

Although the sign suggests that the cementary was opened in 1731, it still isn't clear whether this is the correct year. Official documents of a lawsuite about the destination of the cementaryr in 1766 suggests that Jews were buried up to 40 years before that, which means that the first Jew was laid in the earth around 1726.

Directions
At the crossing of Van Echtenstraat and Wilhelminastraat in the city centre.

1 more image

We simply must not forget that our most beautiful nature areas are preserved thanks to the national parks. They are perfect areas for education, information and research of our national environment. Therefore the Schaapskooi in the Dwingelderveld National Park is both interesting and important, because it preserves the sheep breed "Drenths Heideschaap".

The hurd of sheep in the Schaapskooi is the oldest in the province of Drenthe. It has about 250 sheep and they will leave for the moorland on a daily bases. Of course it's fun to visit them year round, but the months of March and April are maybe the best months to have a look. During these months the young lambs are born.

Especially during the weekends it's a feast to visit the Schaapskooi. The shepherds are present to give information and answers to all you questions. Volunteers give away free "beschuit met muisjes" (best translated in biscuits with sugared caraway-seeds) and warm coffee. We can say that we are proud supporters of the Schaapskooi by an annual donation.

Opening hours:
In the months of May until September the lambs will leave the Schaapskooi at 10:00 am and will return at 17:00 pm.

Address:
Benderse 38, 7963 RA Ruinen

Directions:
Follow the signs Ruinen and once you’re in the centre of this little village follow the sign “Bezoekerscentrum Dwingelderveld”. Park the car right there and it will be a 5 minute walk to the edge of the moorland.

1 more image

The Drenths Heideschaap is the oldest breed of sheep in the western part of Europe. Immigrants brought the breed to the Netherlands in which it appears ever since 4000 BC, especially in the provence of Drenthe. Characteristics of the sheep are its slender structure, a long wooly tail that can reach untill its heel, stiff and lank wool and fianally dull hair on its head and paws. All kinds of combinations of colours are possible, but variegated black and white sheep are not officially recognized.

In the old days the Drenthes Heideschaap were held for its dung which was indispensable for the agriculture in the region. The long and stiff hair is inadequate and can't ne used for wool and besides that the meat of the sheep is inferior for the meat market. Due to the invention of fertilizer lots of sheep hurdes were made superfluous. The current hurdes are kept for historical means and for the maintainance of the dunes and moorland.

Opening hours:
In the months of May until September the lambs will leave the Schaapskooi at 10:00 am and will return at 17:00 pm.

Address:
Benderse 38, 7963 RA Ruinen

Directions:
Follow the signs Ruinen and once you’re in the centre of this little village follow the sign “Bezoekerscentrum Dwingelderveld”. Park the car right there and it will be a 5 minute walk to the edge of the moorland.

The Schaapskooi in Ruinen is part of the Dwingelderveld National Park. It lies near Hoogeveen in the green south west of Drenthe and was established in 1991. This nature reserve encompasses an area of 3,692 hectares and is renowned for being the largest moorland on the continent! The Dwingelderveld National Park is extremely popular with tourists and attracts over one and a half million visitors each year.

Nature's diversity here allows hundreds of different sorts of plants and animals to thrive, many are otherwise threatened in our country. One of them is the sheep "Drenths Heideschaap". At the Schaapskooi visitors can learn more about its history and the sheep in particular.

Opening hours:
In the months of May until September the lambs will leave the Schaapskooi at 10:00 am and will return at 17:00 pm.

Address:
Benderse 38, 7963 RA Ruinen

Directions:
Follow the signs Ruinen and once you’re in the centre of this little village follow the sign “Bezoekerscentrum Dwingelderveld”. Park the car right there and it will be a 5 minute walk to the edge of the moorland.

Around 1800 BC there was a large renovation. About half of the building was demolished, so that the forecourt arose. The walls of the main building were raised and a second floor and the garret were built. Eversince that renovation nothing has been changed to the outside of the house. Not much later the pigeon house (1846) on the green field, of which are very intrigued, was built.

After a huge restoration in 1976 Visio putted the house into use. Visio is a special foundation that lets multiple visually disabled people work there. You're able to watch them work at settled times. Monday untill friday:
09:00u - 10:00u
10:30u - 12:00u
13:00u - 14:30u
15:00u - 16:00u

The baroque English garden in front of the main building can only be visited at monday untill friday form 09:00u - 16:00u. Another must do is the hike "Het Laantje van Hollema". This leads you from the parking space into the woods and around the beautiful havezate.

Address:
Zuidwolderweg 3-5, 7932 PN Echten.

Directions:
Located at the eastern part of the village. Right behind the pigeon house.

1 more image

At Het Huis te Echten over 600 years the "Heeren" (gentlemen) van Echten ruled the area with their own laws, jurisdiction and government. They had a huge influence at the development of the provincie of Drenthe and the reclamation of Hoogeveen in particular.

About 8 centuries ago there was some talk about a house with the name "Huize Echten". This old house wasn't exactly at the same spot, but a bit closer to the little river Oude Diepje, which is connected with the current moat. Huize Echten was completely destroyed in 1230 by the army of the Bishop of Utrecht that passed the southern part of the provincie of Drenthe and destroyed the entire area by arsonning and plundering.

A new house was built in the 14th or 15th century right where Het Huis te Echten is located today. A beautiful building with a chapel and stable house.

Address:
Zuidwolderweg 3-5, 7932 PN Echten.

Directions:
Located at the eastern part of the village. Right behind the pigeon house.

For us Het Huis te Echten is typical such a beautiful sight close to our home we never visited. For over 10 years we have hiked the woods, visited the little villages of tradition, but never stopped for a good view at this amazing house. It must be said that it's quite easy to drive by the house and estate, because there is no clear or huge sign that will lead the way. But once we were there it was a fine visit to this awe-inspiring house.

Het Huis te Echten is a so called Havezate, which means that it's a strenghtened house or citadel. It's a special term for country houses of which the inhabitants had some special rights. Usually these rights were obtained by knighthood. In the Netherlands there were a few havezate for example 112 in the 13th century in the provincie (provence) of Overijssel. Het Huis te Echten is one of the seven still remaining havezate in the provincie of Drenthe.

Address:
Zuidwolderweg 3-5, 7932 PN Echten.

Directions:
Located at the eastern part of the village. Right behind the pigeon house.