The best traffic-free bike rides in Veenhuizen

Great place to take a break on one of the many terraces. If you have time, explore the small roads around and on the south side of the church.

The "Nationaal Park Drents-Friese Wold" is a 6150-hectare contiguous nature area on the border of the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Drenthe. The National Park is one of the largest of the 21 existing parks in the Netherlands and consists of forest, heathland, and drifting sand areas. Its closed forest area is the second largest in the Netherlands. It is bordered by Appelscha in the southeast of Friesland and Doldersum, Diever, Hoogersmilde, Wapse, and Vledder in Drenthe. The Drents-Friese Wold area was declared a National Park in 2000. The park is operated by the state forestry administration (Dutch: Staatsbosbeheer), the association for nature monuments (Natuurmonomenten), the Het Drentse Landschap foundation, and the Maatschappij van Weldadigheid foundation. Only a very small part of the area is still privately owned. The National Park has a visitor center in Appelscha and Diever, as well as information boards at the park's six large parking lots. Over 130 kilometers of hiking trails are signposted. The network of very good cycling paths is similarly extensive. Source: partly Wikipedia

The National Prison Museum has been located at its current site in Veenhuizen since 2005; the only remaining non-free institution of the Society of Benevolence, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2021. The 1823 building is one of the few tangible reminders from the era of the Colonies of Benevolence in the village. In addition to permanent and temporary exhibitions, the Prison Museum offers engaging activities for young and old. From a visit to a notorious disciplinary prison, a ride through the village with the old Boevenbus (crooks' bus), to in-depth events and activities. See also: https://gevangenismuseum.nl/

The building was erected as a barracks for the Royal Marechaussee in 1886, commissioned by the Ministry of Justice. The design is by W.C. Metzelaar. Above the entrance door is a keystone with Metzelaar's initials and the years 1886 and 1902. The latter year presumably indicates internal modifications to the building as a barracks for infectious diseases. Some later renovations concern the interior and changes to the north side facade and the extension on the west rear facade. These interventions fall outside the protection.

Because the bridge is dangerous it is now closed.

The church was dedicated to Saint Gangulfus. Since the "Samen op Weg" (Together on the Way) process, the Reformed church has been called the Village Church.[1] The church building is a national monument. A boulder from a pre-14th-century church was found in the foundations. The current 14th-century church has remnants of tuff stone from its predecessor in the north and east facades. The 1948 bell was cast by Van Bergen of Heiligerlee to replace a bell from 1805 requisitioned by the German occupiers. The wooden ceiling of the choir was painted in 1715, probably by Herman Collenius, with allegories of life and death, joy and mourning. The family crests of the Nijsingh van het Nijsinghhuis, Canter van ter Borgh, Welvede, and Juckema van Oosterbroek families are located in the rim. The pew in the choir belongs to the Oosterbroek manor house. The organ, dating from 1907, was made by Pieter van Dam II. The pulpit, dating from 1621, is the oldest in Drenthe. The baptismal font, dating from 1980, was made by Leo van den Bos. The lid features a dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. The bowl inscribed with the words: "For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light" (Psalm 36). On either side of the entrance, beneath the organ, are two 18th-century pews that belonged to the residents of Lemferdinge. The church is served by the Protestant community of Eelde-Paterswolde.

beautiful surroundings

Nice