Reijntjesveld

The Reijntjesveld is a forest and heath area in the Dutch municipality of Midden-Drenthe. The nature reserve is located between Westerbork and Orvelte on the Orvelterstraat. The vegetation consists mainly of dry heather where the species of shrub heather, pill sedge and sinuous smele grow. In addition, there are some large juniper bushes.

In certain parts the vegetation is wet heather with the species heather, peat fluff and pipe straw. Where it is wettest grows sphagnum moss, small cranberry and lavender heather. In the parts with heather grassland, the species of mouse's ear, lying bedstraw, common meadow rush and sporadically small thyme and the dog violet grow.

On the sand ridge there are traces of ancient habitation and use from the Bronze Age (2000–800 BC) above and below ground. Examples are burial mounds, comb fields and house sites. In the Reijntjesveld, for example, there is such a burial mound.

The name Orvelte comes from the words: Over het Veld. A field was the name of a large heathland. The people who walked from Wezup to Westerbork went over the Reijntjesveld. Settlements sprang up there. This place was given the name Orvelte, which refers to Over het Veld -> Oervelde-> Orvelte. The first time you find the name Orvelte in the archive is in a document from 1362.

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