Places to go with children in Drenthe
Due to its location in the middle of the Drentsche Aa National Park, Park de Zeegser Duinen is a real feast for the eyes in the summer months. Purple heather fields, lush green forests and wide sand drifts - the landscape is incredibly diverse. But there is also plenty to do for the youngest guests of Park de Zeegser Duinen. In this article you will find the most beautiful activities and excursion destinations with children in Drenthe.
Fun and games at Park de Zeegser Duinen
The basis for an ideal family holiday in Drenthe is laid at Park de Zeegser Duinen itself - spacious villas or suite lodges, many with their own whirlpool in which the youngest can bathe carefree. In addition, you can borrow a whole range of games free of charge from the reception at Park de Zeegser Duinen. You can bet that your children will love a game of bocce, croquet, Viking chess, ring toss or bowling! Around the park, the nature of the Drentsche Aa National Park invites you to wander and discover.
Cooling off on hot summer days
In Drenthe, many natural bathing lakes in the middle of nature invite you to swim. So be sure to bring your swimming gear. The Zuidlaardermeer is the largest lake in Drenthe and offers many opportunities for water sports and swimming fun for the whole family at Meerwijckstrand (15 km from Park de Zeegser Duinen).
DX Adventurepark Drenthe (17 km from the park) is the largest outdoor water park in the Netherlands at Lake 't Gasselterveld. From the water park to SUP, canoeing, adventure playground, giant trampoline and water jumps (the latter from 12 years), everything is on offer here.
Discover the tombs
In Drenthe there are no less than 52 megalithic tombs within a radius of 30 kilometres. The unique stone tombs are also wonderful to discover with children, whether by bike or on foot. The associated barrow information centre (26 minutes by car from the park) provides fascinating background information about the history of Drenthe.
Immerse yourself in history
The monument village of Orvelte (35 minutes by car from the park) is a picturesque Angerdorf where you and your children can learn a lot about history. Discover old Dutch crafts, such as clog-making, and take a little trip back in time. At the edge of the village, the adventurous play route called "Het houten pad van Theodoor" (Theodor on the Wooden Path) awaits you. There is also fun and games for children in "De AmbachtenTuin".
In the largest open-air museum in the Netherlands, Veenpark (51 minutes away by car), you will gain insights into the life of early peat farmers, travel by narrow-gauge railway or boat through the idyllic museum villages "'t Aole Compas" and "Bargermond" and visit a real peat dig.
A day in prison
What does a prison look like in reality? And how does it feel to sit in a prison bus? At the Prison Museum (30 minutes by car) you can experience all this and learn all about the village of Veenhuizen and its history. For children from 4 to 12 years, there are scavenger hunts and an escaperoom.
Discover Drenthe actively with children
Discover Drenthe from the water! Take your family on a wonderful canoe trip (16 minutes away by car) through unique nature reserves and reach the river Hunze via narrow waterways. You can choose between kayaks, double kayaks or a canoe. Fun for young and old!
At Beleefpark Dwingeloo (36 minutes by car) it's all about experiencing and discovering. Not only in the most beautifully situated outdoor swimming pool in Drenthe, but also in the climbing forest, on the man-made river, on the punptrack or in the rest of the extensive grounds. The ideal day trip, only 35 minutes away by car.
Visit the tree top walk in Drouwen (27 minutes by car) and go exploring at airy heights. There is also a play forest at the tree top walk.
The Nature Game (28 minutes away by car) is a magical game that you can play on your tablet. In this game you learn all about the beautiful nature of the national park and discover places that remain hidden to the "normal" hiker. Fun for the whole family!
Animals in Drenthe
Travel through the jungle, the savannah and the polar region and come face to face with wild animals: During your visit to the Wildlands Adventure Zoo (39 minutes away by car), you will make a complete trip around the world in one day. You can get tickets at a discounted price through "My Dutchen".
You can see sheep everywhere in Drenthe. Visit one of the sheep pens and get to know the friendly, woolly inhabitants of Drenthe.
Amusement parks and playgrounds in Drenthe
The Drouwenerzand amusement park (23 minutes by car) guarantees a whole day of fun for the kids. There are numerous attractions and playground equipment for children from the age of 3. Experience the megalithic tombs or get an adrenaline kick in the 'Freak Out'.
On holiday in Drenthe with small children? Then be sure to visit the Rijk der Kabouters (Realm of the Dwarves, 18 minutes away by car), an interactive dwarf forest with playground, or the Sprookjeshof fairytale forest in Zuidlaren (11 minutes away by car), a nostalgic family park with fairytale forest, indoor and outdoor playground and children's farm.
The huge play and ice farm de Drentse Koe (43 minutes by car) with 20,000 m2 of adventure space was voted the best place to go in Drenthe and is the ideal place to go with children in Drenthe.
Bad weather tips for Drenthe
If the weather doesn't cooperate, children from the age of 7 can let off steam at the indoor and outdoor climbing centre Adventureland (17 minutes away by car) or visit the indoor adventure park Plopsa Indoor Coevorden (48 minutes away by car).
