Noordenveld

Noordenveld is a rural municipality in the northwest of the province of Drenthe, bordering the province of Groningen to the north, Friesland to the west, the municipalities of Tynaarlo and Assen to the east, and Midden-Drenthe to the south. The main village of the municipality is Roden, which forms the economic centre. Many of the villages in the municipality are so-called brinkdorpen, which means they are centred around a brink or 'village green'. Another village of touristic interest is Veenhuizen, which used to be a reform housing colony and a penal colony.

Tourist information

There are three tourist information centres in Noordenveld.

• Tourist Information Roden

  address: Brink 31, Roden
  at Museum Kinderwereld

• Tourist Information Norg

  address: Brink 1, Norg
  At the public library of Norg

• Tourist Information Veenhuizen

  address: Oude Gracht 40, Veenhuizen

By car

Noordenveld is located southwest of the city of Groningen, and northwest of the city of Assen. By car, the area can be accessed via motorways A7 (Amsterdam-Groningen-Germany) and A28 (Utrecht-Zwolle-Groningen).

By bus

The key frequent bus route into Noordenveld is bus line 4, which frequently (2-6x per hour) runs from the main railway station of Groningen via Peize to Roden (25 minutes, €5). The less frequent bus line 83 (1x/hour) runs from Leek, via Roden and Norg, to Assen, and bus line 18 (1x/hour) runs from Assen via Norg to to Drachten (Friesland). Veenhuizen can be accessed by using bus line 14 (1x/hour), from Assen via Veenhuizen to Drachten. All these bus lines are operated by Qbuzz.

By bicycle

The best way to get around in Roden and surroundings is by bicycle. Bicycles can be rented at Stuurwold (Nieuweweg 26A, Roden) or at Bike Totaal Stellingwerf (Oosteind 25, Norg).

By bus

The main bus routes that are useful within Noordenveld are bus lines 4 (between Roden and Peize) and 83 (between Roden and Norg). There are no direct bus connections between Roden/Norg and Veenhuizen.

Museums

• Kinderwereld toy museum

  address: Brink 31, Roden
  Museum about children's toys in the past and the present

• Museum Havezate Mensinge

  address: Mensingheweg 7, Roden
  Museum on the history of life in Drenthe, in a house built in 1381

• National Prison Museum

  address: Oude Gracht 1, Veenhuizen
  Interactive museum on crime and punishment from 1600 to the present, including the history of Veenhuizen's penal colony.

Parks

• De Tuinen van Weldadigheid

  address: Hospitaallaan 48, Veenhuizen
  Gardens and orchard with historic and special vegetables. In the shop you can buy products from the orchard, such as chutneys and juices.

Dolmen sites

The province of Drenthe is famous for the large number of dolmen sites (in Dutch 'hunebedden '), megalithic tombs. Two of them are in Noordenveld.

• Dolmen D1

  address: Steenbergen
  Relatively complete dolmen with six capstones, easy to access from the main road (Hoofdweg Steenbergen).

• Dolmen D2

  address: Westervelde
  Small dolmen, with 2 of 4 original capstones still in place.

• Leekstermeer

  phone: +31 594 512 073
  address: Meerweg 13, Nietap
  Boat rental, sailing, wind surfing, and kayaking at the Leekstermeer lake

• De OnlandenUnique wetlands area in the north of Noordenveld, between the Leekstermeer lake and the city of Groningen. Great for hiking, cycling, horse-riding, or bird-watching.

• Kaaslust

  address: Hoofdweg 138, Veenhuizen
  Traditionally crafted cheese in the original dairy factory of the Veenhuizen agricultural community. Next to the Maallust brewery.

• Cuisinerie Mensinge

  address: Mensingheweg 1, Roden
  Small brasserie and restaurant in wonderful surroundings at the entrance to Museum Havezate Mensinge

• De Jufferen Lunsingh

  phone: +31 592 612 618
  address: Hoofdweg 13, Westervelde
  It is advisable to book ahead, especially at weekends.

• De Peizer Hopbel

  phone: +31 50 503 4040
  address: Hoofdstraat 3, Peize

• Brink 15

  phone: +31 50 501 0777
  address: Brink 15, Roden
  Sandwiches, salads, pancakes, and more.

• Maallust Brewery

  phone: +31 592 388 971
  address: Hoofdweg 140, Veenhuizen
  This local brewery is located in a former flour mill building, that was part of the Veenhuizen prison village. You can visit the brewery to taste their 8 types of beers, and to do a tour of the brewery. Next door is the Kaaslust cheese shop.

Hotels

A range of hotels, mainly three-star mid-range hotels, is available in Noordenveld, amongst others in the villages of Roden, Norg, and Veenhuizen.

• Fletcher Hotel Langewold

  address: Ceintuurbaan Noord 1, Roden

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• Hotel Onder De Linden

  address: Brink 27, Roden

• Hotel Het Wapen van Drenthe

  address: Heerestraat 1, Roden

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• Hotel Norg

  address: Westeind 7, Norg

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• Hotel Karsten

  address: Brink 6, Norg

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• Hotel Jachtlust Steenbergen

  address: Hoofdweg 22, Steenbergen

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• Hotel Bitter & Zoet

  address: Hospitaallaan 16, Veenhuizen

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Campsites and holiday homes

• Camping Cnossen Leekstermeer

  address: Meerweg 13, Nietap
  Campsite along the shores of the Leekstermeer lake

• Camping Dorado

  phone: +31 50 501 9261
  address: Norgerweg 19, Roden
  Campsite just outside of the village of Roden, which also offers small holiday cottages.

• De Norgerberg

  phone: +31 592 612 281
  address: Langeloërweg 63, Norg
  Luxury campsite in the forested area of Norg, with also holiday homes and special accommodations such as a treehouse.

• Recreatiecentrum Ronostrand

  phone: +31 592 656 206
  address: Amerika 16, Een
  Campsite, mobilhomes and cottages, with a small swimming lake and bar/restaurant.

• Westerkwartier — wetland and bocage area just across the border in Groningen province, with the Nienoord estate
• Assen — the provincial capital of Drenthe
• Groningen — the economic and cultural centre of the Northern Netherlands