Heading to Drenthe on a family holiday? Then you’re in for a treat. We spent years holidaying here and have now lived in Drenthe for two years, which has given us plenty of time to explore the province with our little ones. We’ve swum in gorgeous natural lakes, climbed through the treetops and come face to face with elephants. Nature is never far away, and wherever you are, there’s an outing nearby that will keep the kids busy for hours.
In this blog, I’m sharing our favourite things to do in Drenthe with kids. Not the standard list of well-known sights, but places we’ve been to ourselves and can recommend with confidence. Think adventurous play forests and lookout towers, swimming lakes and a farm where you pick your own blueberries. There’s something for sunny days and for rainy afternoons alike. We bet nobody gets bored for a second!
Read more: the 20 best things to do in Drenthe
Drenthe with Kids: 14 Best Attractions and Things to Do
#1 WILDLANDS Adventure Zoo Emmen
Walking into WILDLANDS doesn’t feel like entering a zoo. It feels like entering another world. Three, actually. First comes the jungle, where you glide past elephants, monkeys and tropical birds in a little boat, between giant ferns and splashing waterfalls. Then the savannah, where you spot giraffes, zebras and rhinos from an open truck, just like a real safari. And finally the polar region, where polar bears swim right past the glass and penguins waddle up to say hello. In between, you can dive into an underground research station, scramble through rope courses and play in the largest indoor jungle in the Netherlands.
WILDLANDS was built on the site of Emmen’s old zoo, which had been around since 1935. In 2016 the park reopened in this completely new form: adventurous, spacious and themed down to the last detail. That makes it ideal for kids, because everything here is about exploring and experiencing. Our personal favourite was without a doubt the huge indoor jungle, where we crossed rope bridges and took the safari boat. Mind you, our four-year-old daughter would tell you the best bit was the roller coaster. It was her first ever ride on one, and it instantly turned into five rounds!
We visited WILDLANDS Zoo in collaboration with the park.
#2 Buitencentrum Boomkroonpad
A forest walk, but up in the air. At Boomkroonpad near Drouwen, you walk among the treetops, metres above the ground. A wooden path takes you gradually upwards, then a bridge leads you right through the canopy. It’s just you, the birds, the wind in the branches and a view over the forest. A bit nerve-racking if you’re scared of heights, but that’s half the fun. The path itself isn’t long, but it’s unique and easy to combine with everything else at the visitor centre.
Because down on the ground, there’s plenty more waiting for you. Little ones can follow the gnome trail, complete with pointy hat and activity booklet. There’s a play forest with tree trunks, water pumps and muddy puddles. And the visitor centre tells you all about the animals and plants of the Hondsrug. That Hondsrug is quite special, by the way: a sandy ridge formed during the Ice Age, where people were already living back in the Stone Age.
#3 The Hunebedden of Drenthe
You almost trip over them in Drenthe: hunebedden, the Dutch name for these prehistoric dolmens. More than fifty are scattered across the province, often simply in the woods or on the edge of a village. These piles of giant boulders are the oldest monuments in the Netherlands. They were built by the first farmers, some five thousand years ago, who dragged together enormous stones, some weighing as much as twenty thousand kilos, and stacked them into impressive burial chambers. No machines, no wheels, and yet they’re still standing.
The best-known hunebed is in Borger, next to the Hunebedcentrum. We found the museum itself a bit dull, but the hunebed outside is absolutely worth it. You can simply walk all the way around it. Climbing on it is no longer allowed, but the sheer scale is still impressive.
They pop up in other places too. On the edge of Diever, the village where we live, there’s a beautiful one as well. Want to see several in one day? Then we’d recommend a road trip through Drenthe along the Hunebed Highway. Most hunebedden lie close to one main road, so you can easily visit a few in a day.
#4 Kabouterland Exloo
A gnome village, an underground cave, tropical animals and a big playground, all in one park? You’ll find it in Exloo. I came here regularly as a child, and now my own kids often visit this magical play park with their grandparents. Kabouterland is one of those places kids disappear into straight away. Literally, too, because part of the park runs through an underground network of tunnels with gnome houses, post offices and even a gnome metro. Everything is built at child height, and there’s always something hidden away or suddenly moving.
But there’s more to Kabouterland than gnomes. Outside, you’ll find a surprisingly good little zoo with meerkats, parrots and coatis, among others. There are playgrounds with climbing frames and slides, water play and a gnome trail through the woods. Much of it is covered or sheltered, so it works fine on a grey day too. The park is compact and laid-back. You never have to queue, and you’re welcome to bring your own sandwiches.
#5 Sheepfold and Nature Playground in Dwingelderveld
In Dwingelderveld you might just bump into a shepherd with two hundred sheep. Every day he sets off from the Ruinen sheepfold onto the heath, followed by his dog and a long trail of woolly backs. It’s a great chance for kids to see with their own eyes how it all works. The sheepfold is free to visit. Information boards and interactive displays tell you about the breed, the history of shepherding and why sheep are still so important here. Our favourite moment is the end of the day, when the shepherd brings the flock home. From the lookout tower, you watch the sheep trot back towards the fold at quite a pace.
Dwingelderveld also has a nature playground by Natuurmonumenten, the Dutch nature conservation society, which blends right into the landscape. No bright colours or plastic climbing frames, just tree trunks, water channels, stepping stones and mud. Kids pump water into a little stream, build dams or slide down a hill. Everything is made of wood, stone and sand. The playground is right next to the Natuurmonumenten visitor centre, where you’ll also find walking routes and can grab a coffee.
#6 De Drentse Koe Play Farm
If there’s anywhere kids are in their element, it’s here. De Drentse Koe is a play farm in Ruinerwold where it’s all about playing, exploring and getting dirty feet. Outside, kids race around on pedal go-karts, bounce on trampolines or build dams in the water play area. Inside, there are hay bales, climbing nets and even a glow-in-the-dark maze. The grounds are big but easy to keep an eye on. Perfect for parents who’d like to stay put on the terrace while the kids forget all about them.
In between all the playing, kids can feed and cuddle the animals in the barn. There are goats, rabbits, chickens and now and then newborn calves. The ice cream comes from the farm’s own cows, and the farmyard smell is free of charge. In summer you can join mud races or use water pumps to build an entire network of canals. De Drentse Koe feels a bit like a whole holiday packed into one day.
#7 Orvelte Museum Village
Orvelte is a historic Drenthe village where time seems to stand still, and one of the best places to visit in Drenthe, with or without kids. You walk along cobbled streets past thatched farmhouses, smell fresh bread from the old bakery and peek into the blacksmith’s workshop. It’s a living museum, minus the display cases. Here it’s all about wandering, looking, touching and tasting. You don’t even need a ticket to enter the village. You just walk straight in.
Kids can set off on a treasure hunt, pop into the old-fashioned sweet shop or make their own candle. Sheep wander around, sometimes with a shepherd, and you’ll hear the sound of sawing wood or a weaving loom coming from one of the workshops. Orvelte isn’t a place where you spend hours shuffling silently past information boards. It’s a real, living village that simply breathes history. You stroll from farmyard to farmyard, ice cream in hand, learning things without even noticing.
#8 Het Blauwe Meer
You’re still in Drenthe, but it feels like you’ve suddenly landed in the south of France! Het Blauwe Meer (the Blue Lake) lies deep in the forest near Hoogersmilde, yet it looks like a tropical oasis. The water is bright blue and the shore is white and sandy. No reeds or clay, but a proper beach feel. That’s because the lake used to be a sand quarry. What’s left is a deep, clean lake with brilliant blue swimming water.
For kids, it’s paradise. They build dams, roll down sandy slopes and jump into the water again and again. Nobody needs slides or play equipment here, because the surroundings are the playground. The beach slopes gently, so even toddlers can play safely. You’re welcome to bring your own picnic. There’s a simple kiosk for a drink or an ice cream, but no other fuss. In the summer months you pay to get in. Without paying, you can still walk a lovely loop around the lake, which we’d definitely recommend.
#9 Belevenispad Hoogersmilde Adventure Trail
A boring walk in the woods? Not on the Belevenispad (adventure trail) near Hoogersmilde. This free 2.5-kilometre route is full of surprises. Along the way you pump water with a rope pump, balance across dozens of Ice Age boulders, climb a raised hide with views over the heath and peer through spyholes in search of grass snakes in the snake pit. For our kids, the highlight was without a doubt the replica Spitfire with a parachutist hanging in the trees above it. Climbing into the plane is allowed, so they easily played there for an hour.
The route follows red posts through Drents-Friese Wold National Park and is designed for children aged roughly four to twelve. You’ll pass ten activity stops in total, each telling you something about the nature or history of Hoogersmilde. The information boards with historical background make the trail interesting for parents too. Did you know, for example, that during the Second World War there was a fake airstrip nearby to mislead the Germans? Before you know it, an hour and a half has gone by and the kids are asking for another round. We’d combine this walk with Het Blauwe Meer, which is less than a five-minute drive away.
#10 De Bonte Wever Tropical Swimming Paradise
Walking into De Bonte Wever feels like an instant holiday. Warm tiles, fake palm trees, the smell of chlorine and chips, and happy kids everywhere. This swimming paradise in Assen has everything you’d hope for from a tropical pool: a wave pool, a slide that seems to go on forever, hot tubs, a rapids channel and a toddler pool where little ones can splash around safely.
It’s warm, busy and lively. Exactly what you want on a rainy day. Everything is indoors and there’s something to do wherever you look. Parents can grab food and drinks in the pool area, and there’s plenty of room to just sit and watch. De Bonte Wever is part of a large hotel and leisure complex, so you can stay the night if you like. But for an afternoon of splashing about, the pool alone is more than enough.
#11 Pluktuin Zeldenrust Blueberry Picking Farm
Picking blueberries turned out to be the perfect summer outing in Drenthe. At Pluktuin Zeldenrust in Wapse, our kids each got a little bucket and we followed the signs to the field where picking was allowed that day. After that, it’s just a matter of hunting for the biggest, ripest berries. A little tasting along the way is fine too, we were told, and our toddler didn’t need to hear that twice.
You pay €6 per kilo, which is ridiculously cheap. For all the blueberries our kids had picked, we paid just €2.40 in the end. That’s cheaper than the supermarket and a whole lot more fun. From now on, we’d much rather get our blueberries from the farm in Wapse. Depending on the season, you can also pick flowers and other fruit. Afterwards, settle down on the terrace for a coffee and a slice of blueberry cake.
#12 Terhorsterzand Swimming Lake
Het Blauwe Meer is gorgeous, but on a hot summer’s day you certainly won’t have it to yourself. Prefer a quieter place to swim? Then Terhorsterzand is a great choice. From the car park, it’s a few minutes’ walk through the woods to the lake, where a wide sandy beach and gently sloping shallow water await. Our kids could play safely and splash around almost everywhere without it suddenly getting deep. We’d read beforehand that the lake can almost dry up at the end of a dry summer. When we visited in late July, after several rainy spells, there was more than enough water.
What struck us most was how quiet it was. Popular spots like Het Blauwe Meer can get pretty busy on sunny days and charge an entrance fee, but here it was blissfully calm and completely free. Don’t expect a beach café or playground. Apart from a few rubbish bins, it’s just nature. That’s exactly what makes it so pleasant. Terhorsterzand is also an official swimming location. During the swimming season the water quality is checked regularly, and on Zwemwater.nl you can easily see beforehand whether the water is clean or whether blue-green algae have been found.
#13 Veenhuizen Prison Museum
At the Veenhuizen Prison Museum, you learn all about crooks, punishment and re-education, in a way kids understand and enjoy. You can step into a prison cell, feel handcuffs click around your wrists and climb aboard an old prison bus. Everything is designed to make the past tangible, from the penal camps of long ago to the prisons of today.
Veenhuizen itself is a story in its own right. In the nineteenth century, poor people from the big cities were sent here. No luxury, but re-education through hard work. The whole village was part of that system, with buildings called ‘Orde’ (Order) and ‘Tucht’ (Discipline) and long straight lanes with no way out. Many of those buildings are still standing. The museum is housed in one of the originals and tells this history without making it dull. Kids can dress up, follow a trail or solve puzzles. And by the end, you’ll look at what justice really means through slightly different eyes.
#14 Doldersummerveld Observation Tower
Climbing a lookout tower never gets old, especially when you’re rewarded with a view over a sweeping purple heath. The photogenic wooden tower at Doldersummerveld stands in the middle of Drents-Friese Wold National Park and gives you a great view over the reserve. From the car park, it’s about a ten-minute walk. The climb isn’t very hard, but for kids it’s definitely a challenge, and the view alone is an adventure. With a bit of luck, you’ll spot Scottish Highland cattle or a flock of sheep on the heath in the distance.
We like to make it a stop during a bike ride through the area. A few minutes’ cycle away is the Doldersum sheepfold, where you can have a picnic or a game of schapensjoelen, a sheep-themed take on Dutch shuffleboard. The sheep are usually out on the heath during the day, so don’t count on finding them at the fold. That’s what makes it fun to keep your eyes open along the way. You’ll often come across the flock somewhere in the reserve, just like the Highland cattle.
Tip: if you’re in the area anyway, it’s easy to make a day of it. Just across the provincial border in Appelscha are the Bosbergtoren and De Zeven, two beautiful lookout towers with striking architecture. The Bosbergtoren is designed as a giant pine trunk, with platforms sticking out and even a glass floor. De Zeven is perhaps even more spectacular: a tower shaped like the number 7, where steep stairs lead you up to a view over the vast Fochteloërveen bog.
