At Landgoed Tolhek in Drenthe you sleep in a tree house and fill your weekend with the best activities
It sometimes takes some searching in Drenthe, but you can certainly find cozy eateries, and plenty of them! Like AMOI in Gieterveen, about a 15-minute drive (by car) from the tree house. AMOI has a menu full of dishes to share. The choice is huge, from a delicious burrata salad to crispy dumplings. Start with two snacks per person and – just remember – always leave room for dessert.
Fancy an evening of luxurious dining? Then it is Restaurant Rikus in Eext de place to be. From the tree house it is only a 10-minute drive to the restaurant. You can choose a three-, four-, five- or even six-course menu here, and you don't have to go through the menu yourself, because it's food that comes from the pot! When you walk into the restaurant they ask what you like, and importantly, what you like less. The kitchen staff creates a delicious menu that suits you (and they do it well). The garden of Rikus restaurant is full of vegetables that they grow themselves, and which you will encounter later on your plate. And the wine? Also well cared for; They recommend a suitable wine for every dish, but if you find that one red wine too tasty to exchange, they turn a blind eye.
It feels like you've gone back in time when you enter the village of Orvelte (30 minutes' drive from the tree house). There are old farms everywhere (some even from the 16th century) with thatched roofs, vast landscapes, gnarled trees: a picture. Don't be alarmed if you see a herd of sheep walking on the road. Neils the sheep shepherd takes his flock for a walk every week and knows all kinds of things about it. You wouldn't expect anything else: Neils and his flock have been living in Orvelte for more than 25 years. Follow along and learn all about this herd, and sheep facts in general? Can!
If you come at the right time and in the right season, you can even help give the lambs milk!
When you think of Drenthe, you may quickly think of fields full of vegetables. Look, asparagus is one of them; one of the most grown vegetables in this region, in fact. In New Amsterdam (yes, in Drenthe) you will find the Asparagus farm Sandur. This is where the locals buy the most delicious (fresh) asparagus. And as a tourist, a visit to the farm is more than fun. On the farm you will find a shop where you can buy – of course – asparagus, but also other regional products. In the asparagus season you can also book an excursion with lunch or dinner here, how nice!
Drenthe has an abundance of nature, but where is the best place to walk undisturbed? The Hondsrug runs from Groningen to Emmen (including here) and is rich in natural and cultural history. While walking you will even come across remains from the Ice Age, such as some sand ridges and stream valleys, which were formed by accumulations of ice.
There are a variety of cycling and walking routes in the immediate vicinity of Tolhek Estate. Places for cycling and walking include Boswachterij Gieten-Borger, the heathlands of the Balloërveld. Very nice: walk a bit of the Pieterpad, as this walking route runs along the estate. Want to know where exactly to look and which paths are the best? Then you would do well to walk with a guide.
Bonus points: less than a fifteen-minute drive from the tree house, you will find a hiking and picnic mecca.
The river De Hunze meanders through Drenthe. Beautiful, yes, but also fun and sporty! On De Hunze you can SUP and canoe with @25degreesnorth. You will receive a SUP board, life jacket and paddle to set out. And also nice: the people at 25 Degrees North give you a route map to get to know the area in a sporty way. There are two: both routes are equally beautiful and wonderfully quiet, so you can't make a bad choice. Do you have the time? Then just do them both!
25 Degrees North is certainly a very nice place: they have group accommodations, cozy huts (how nice is the Swedish Kota!) and organize all kinds of fun activities, such as Walking & Trading, a bushcraft course and shooting roulette.
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