Cycling tour Blue Forest - Fochtelooerveen near Appelscha

Cycling tour that crosses various nature reserves. At Appelscha you cycle in the Drents-Friese Wold, then you cycle through the Fochtelooerveen and halfway you come through the beautiful Blauwe Bos. You also pass various waterways, so don't be surprised if a boat sails with you for a while, for example at the Opsterlandse Compagnonsvaart or the Haulerwijkstervaart. This route also takes you through various places with a very unique character. From Appelscha you cycle to Veenhuizen, the prison village that received world heritage status in 2021, as part of the Colonies of Benevolence. Take some time here to view the special houses with the edifying mottoes on the facades. If you have enough time, also visit the Prison Museum, highly recommended!

From Veenhuizen you drive on to Haulerwijk. In the times of peat extraction, various canals (or districts) were constructed here to transport the peat. You pass through the centre of Haulerwijk, where you can also have a cup of coffee or lunch along the way. From Haulerwijk you drive through the beautiful Blauwe Bos.

The journey continues via Waskemeer and Donkerbroek. You cycle through the open landscape here and follow the Opsterlands Compagnonsvaart. This is also the Turfroute, a sailing route where peat used to be transported and where pleasure boats now sail this Turfroute. Also an experience for pleasure boats! The Turfroute has several small bridges that you can operate yourself. Eventually you pass Oosterwolde, the largest town in the region with its own shopping centre and pleasant terraces along the Compagnonsvaart. In Oosterwolde you also pass the Biosintrum. This is the most sustainable building in Ooststellingwerf. Here is also a campus for sustainable development, where students have created all kinds of test fields.

Between Oosterwolde and Appelscha you cycle along the Turfroute one more time. Here is also the lock where, if you are lucky, a few pleasure boats are locked.

Routing Junction - cycling