Dogs (and their owners) are more than welcome at Park Drentheland! We’re especially pet-friendly and do everything we can to make your stay—and your four-legged friend’s—as pleasant as possible. We welcome up to three dogs per accommodation or campsite, so the whole family can enjoy a wonderful vacation together.
Upon arrival, your dog will receive a surprise welcome gift with delicious and healthy dog treats from Hond in Focus, and we’re happy to provide our guests with tips for fun outings with their dogs in Drenthe!
Fun Outings with Your Dog in Drenthe
Of course, a vacation or weekend getaway isn’t truly complete unless you can bring your four-legged friend along. Fortunately, Drenthe is a paradise for dogs and their owners alike. With vast forests, endless heathlands, and charming villages, it’s the perfect place to go on adventures together. From Park Drentheland in Zorgvlied, you’re right in the middle of nature in no time. In this article, Tom, from the website rent a cottage with your dog, tells you more about the best outings you and your dog can enjoy in Drenthe.
Hiking in Drents-Friese Wold National Park
Literally just around the corner from Park Drentheland lies the Drents-Friese Wold National Park, one of the largest nature reserves in the Netherlands. Here, you can hike for hours without running into a single person. For dogs, it’s a paradise of scents, trails, and watering holes. There are several off-leash areas where your dog can run freely. The Aekingerzand, also known as the Kale Duinen, is especially recommended. This unique shifting sand dune area resembles a mini-desert, and your dog will love the variety of sand, heathland, and forest.
Appelscha Dog Off-Leash Area
On the Frisian side of the Drents-Friese Wold, near Appelscha, there’s a large off-leash area specifically for dogs. Here, they’re free to run around all year round. The area is easy to keep an eye on and fenced in, making it ideal if your dog wants a little more freedom but you still want to keep an eye on them. There’s even a pond where dogs can enjoy a swim or just dip their paws. Don’t forget your towel—wet dogs are guaranteed!
Cycling with Your Dog
Do you enjoy biking? Then take your dog along in a dog trailer or—if he’s fit enough—let him run alongside your bike for a bit. Bikes are available for rent at the front desk, and from Park Drentheland, there are beautiful biking routes through nature and past charming villages such as Diever and Dwingeloo. Along the way, there are plenty of spots to take a break, have a picnic, or stop at a patio where your dog is also welcome. Just keep an eye on the temperature: on hot days, it’s better to leave your dog at home or only go cycling early in the morning.
Letting your dogs swim
Swimming with your dog in Drenthe is a wonderful way to be active together and cool off on hot days. There are several places where you can do this:
Spartelmeer (Drents-Friese Wold)
In Drents-Friese Wold National Park, one of the largest nature reserves in the Netherlands, there are several interconnected off-leash areas. After a long hike, dogs can cool off at the Spartelmeer, an ideal spot for a refreshing dip.
Baggelhuizerplas – Assen
West of Assen lies the Baggelhuizerplas, a recreational area with forests, grassy fields, heathland, and a large swimming lake. Dogs are allowed to run off-leash year-round in the southern part of the lake and the eastern part of the nature reserve. There’s even a special dog beach where your dog can cool off.
Holtingerveld (Havelte)
The Holtingerveld near Havelte offers three off-leash areas with varied natural landscapes, including heathland, woods, sand drifts, and expansive fields. You’ll also find small ponds in this area—wonderful spots for your dog to cool off during a walk.
Odoorn Forest (Odoorn)
In the Odoorn Forest, you’ll find dog-off-leash areas in both the northern and southern sections. In the southern section is the “IJsbaan,” a large pond where your four-legged friend can take a refreshing dip.
Gieten-Borger Forest (Borger)
Gieten-Borger Forest is a nature reserve steeped in history, featuring burial mounds and dolmens. In the off-leash areas, you’ll find several swimming ponds where dogs can swim. From the Het Boomkroonpad Visitor Center, you can walk almost directly into one of the off-leash areas.
Visit charming villages and outdoor cafes
Dogs are often more than welcome on outdoor patios in Drenthe. Places like Diever, Vledder, and Dwingeloo are within biking distance of Park Drentheland and feature charming town centers with cafés, ice cream parlors, and restaurants. Many outdoor patios will set out a bowl of water for your dog without even asking. Some even have dog treats on the menu! So an afternoon of strolling, sniffing around, and enjoying a bite to eat and a drink is no hardship at all for either of you.
Visit a dog park or training class
Want to let your dog do something different for a change—other than walking or swimming? There are several dog training schools in the region where you can sign up for workshops in tracking, agility, or obedience. Some even offer dog play areas: fenced-in areas with obstacles, tunnels, and play equipment designed specifically for dogs. It’s a fun way to challenge your dog mentally and physically, and it also strengthens the bond between you. Just Google “dog park Drenthe” and you’ll find a few nearby in no time.
Dog-Friendly Accommodations at Park Drentheland
Whatever your plans may be, it’s nice to know that Park Drentheland is the perfect place to stay with your dog(s). There are special dog pavilions where your pet is welcome, has plenty of space to relax, and where the gardens are fenced in. The area is laid out so that you can literally walk straight into the woods from your accommodation. It’s ideal for a morning walk with dew on the grass or an evening stroll at sunset.