The Blue Lake

Fancy a relaxing day at the beach?
It may not be on the coast, but within the Leggerderveld nature reserve, southeast of Hoogersmilde, you’ll find the beautiful Blue Lake (Blauwe Meer).

At this wonderful spot, you can enjoy the lake and the sand – in short, it really feels like a beach. Whether you’re spending the day with family, friends, or enjoying some time on your own, it’s all possible here.

There is a kiosk offering beach food and refreshing drinks, and toilets are also available.
There is plenty of parking for cars, and the Blue Lake is also easily accessible by bicycle.

Please note that dogs are not allowed on the beach and that a day of swimming costs €3.50 (entry is free for Natuurmonumenten members and children up to 4 years old).

Note: Cash payments are not accepted. Please make sure you can pay contactlessly using a mobile phone or a debit card.

WOODZ

Just a 10-minute walk from Camping De Reeënwissel, you can enjoy a delicious meal. The menu focuses on pancakes as well as a bistro-style selection, including a good hamburger or a satay dish.
The restaurant is welcoming and has a warm atmosphere. The service is certainly excellent, with friendly and hospitable staff. Families, children, friends—and yes, even dogs—are warmly welcomed both indoors and outdoors. Water is also provided for your loyal four-legged companion.

Highly recommended as a place to stop and recharge after a long walk or bike ride.

Enjoy your meal!

Cycling and hiking in the Drenthe countryside

When you think of Drenthe, you think of nature, forests, culture, and history. In this beautiful province, there is so much to see, do, and experience.

You can walk, cycle, or run along countless paths.
On the website https://www.drenthe.nl/fietsen-wandelen, you can find inspiration for what nature and the forests have in store for you.

So, put on your shoes and head outside. The fresh air is waiting for you!

Herinninerings centrum kamp Westerbork

About a 20-minute drive away is the Westerbork Transit Camp Memorial Center.
For those interested in World War II or who want to learn more about it, this is a very moving part of Dutch history.

Swimming!

On a very hot day, a large outdoor swimming pool is the perfect solution. There are several swimming facilities in the area, such as Bosbad Appelscha.
The pool has diving boards and a large family waterslide. On the sunbathing lawn you can burn off some energy, or simply relax while enjoying a snack and a drink.

Check the website for more information and opening hours:

https://appelscha.nl/bosbad-appelscha/

Swimming within a 30-minute drive

If you don’t mind driving a little further, there is also a fun swimming paradise for young and old about half an hour away by car.

Heuveltjesbosbad offers swimming fun for all ages. There is also a large playground, an air trampoline, a beach volleyball court, and a panna cage.

At the pool kiosk you can buy sweets, ice cream, and drinks. You are allowed to bring your own food and drinks, but it is forbidden to bring or consume alcohol.

For more information, please visit the link below:

https://heuveltjesbosbad.nl/

bike rental

Our little forest retreat is nestled in a beautiful area, ideal for exploring by bike. Didn’t bring one with you? No problem! Just a 5-minute walk from Camping De Reeënwissel, you’ll find a bike rental shop.

They offer a wide range of bikes for every need: ladies’ and men’s bikes, electric bikes (E-bikes), tandems, mountain bikes (MTB/ATB), cargo bikes, and even dog carts.

For more details, feel free to visit their website. https://hetdrentsewold.nl/fietsverhuur-atb-clinics/

going out to eat

Treat yourself to a culinary experience in the heart of Drenthe at Restaurant 't Wildryck. Enjoy seasonal dishes crafted with care, featuring specialties from the grill and kamado BBQ, made even more flavorful with herbs grown in their own garden.

Just a short distance from De Reeënwissel, it’s the perfect spot for a memorable evening out in a beautiful setting.

https://restaurantwildryck.nl/restaurant/

Zoo near Emmen

A beautifully designed animal park near Emmen. About a 30-minute drive from De Reeënwissel you will find Wildlands Adventure Zoo.

Discover nature from around the world!

https://www.wildlands.nl/werelden

The coolest playground in Drenthe!

At Joytime you can climb, scramble, and enjoy plenty of outdoor activities!

The park is located about a 25-minute drive from De Reeënwissel, making it ideal for a fun family day out.

For more information, please visit the website:
https://joytime.nl/outdoor-belevingspark/

Swimming at the campsite

Guests of Bosplekkie at De Reeënwissel campsite can enjoy free access to the nearby swimming pool! Just a short, pleasant walk through a small forest trail takes you there. The path starts near the horse arena at the edge of the campsite.

Follow the trail to the end, and you’ll arrive at a charming, cozy pool. There’s a large, deeper pool for a refreshing swim and a smaller paddling pool perfect for little ones to splash around safely.

Alpacas

Treat yourself to a high tea surrounded by friendly alpacas! Just a 10-minute drive from Bosplekkie, this unique experience is perfect for a relaxing and memorable outing.

Discover more and book your visit: https://www.alpaca-enzo.nl/

Shopping in the city!

For a day of more excitement and charming shopping streets, you don’t have to travel far. Within a radius of about 30–40 minutes from Bosplekkie, you can visit some of the nicest towns such as Assen (17 km), Emmen (38 km), Meppel (32 km), and more.

Enjoy terraces, restaurants, shops, and cultural experiences.

For more information:
https://www.drenthe.nl/te-doen-te-beleven/winkelen

Swimming Lake 't Nije Hemelriek

In the middle of the forest lies the swimming lake ’t Nije Hemelriek; a wonderful place to swim, play on the beach, or simply relax. The lake is located right next to the Gasselterveld swimming lake. During summer, many people come here to cool off, as the area looks so inviting. The swimming pond is very shallow and therefore great fun for children. With its tropical color and white sandy beach, surrounded by dense woodland, you feel like you’re in another country — yet this little gem is simply located in the Netherlands!

You can also enjoy lovely walks in the area.

Some practical information:

• Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on the beach.

• The parking area is open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Exiting is possible at any time.

• Paid parking between April 1 and October 1: €2 per hour or €6 per day.

• On sunny summer days it can get very busy, so please reserve your parking space via: www.hetgasselterveld.nl

• For current swimming advice, check: www.zwemwater.nl

Mountain biking just around the corner

From Camping De Reeënwissel you can start a beautiful mountain bike tour. The length of this route is approximately 23 km. The riding direction is clockwise (CW).

The route is marked with green posts displaying the international MTB symbol (a triangle with two circles underneath).

Various starting locations:

You can start the route at:

• Camping Diever, Haarweg 2, 7981 LW Diever

• Parking area on Bosweg, 9423 TA Hoogersmilde

• Parking area at Camping De Reeënwissel, Bosweg 23, 9423 TA Hoogersmilde

For more information, please visit the website:
https://www.mtbroutes.nl/drenthe/diever-hoogersmilde

Sauna Thermen Zuidwolde

Enjoy a wonderful day at the sauna and wellness beauty center, located not far from our Tiny House. This medium-sized, luxurious sauna retreat is housed in a former Saxon farmhouse and is set in a peaceful rural area in the southern part of the province of Drenthe. Here, ENJOYMENT and HOSPITALITY are still written in capital letters.

Experience the tranquility of the orchard garden, where you can still hear frogs croaking. Swing and doze off in one of the hammocks, or soak up the sun on one of the many loungers without a care in the world. From Wednesday to Sunday, you can enjoy a variety of baths and different saunas, including the renowned cave sauna and salt stone cabin.
The showpiece is the large new infusion sauna, heated by two large wood-burning stoves, making the sauna infusions a truly fantastic experience. In the same new building you will also find the charming Iki sauna with a view of the garden.

On Wednesdays, it is a swimwear day.
The reception is open from Wednesday to Sunday starting at 9:30 AM.

For more information, please visit the website:
https://www.sauna-zuidwolde.nl

Swimming fun for your beloved four-legged friend

The off-leash area with its designated dog beach at Baggelhuizerplas is a wonderful place to visit with your dog. This recreational area west of Assen consists of forests, grass fields, heathland, and of course the (swimming) lake.

In the southern part of the lake and the eastern part of the nature area, dogs are allowed to run off-leash all year round. There is even a special dog beach. Please pay close attention to the signs, as dogs are not permitted on the recreational beaches or in the areas directly adjacent to them.

Free parking is available at the parking area at Baggelhuizen.

This place can be reached from our tiny house in approximately 16 minutes by car.

Have fun!

Lorken Play Forest

Looking for a fun play forest? In Drenthe, you’ll find several! The most well-known is Play Forest Lorken, mainly because of its popular location near the Boomkroonpad in Borger. Various walking routes also start here, ranging from longer hikes of up to 16 kilometers to shorter walks of 3 to 5 kilometers.

Would you like to go for a walk with a toddler or preschooler? Then choose the Gnome Trail in Borger, a fun and short walk of about one and a half kilometers. Pick up a hat and a story booklet at the visitor center.

When you walk behind the Boomkroonpad Visitor Center, you will immediately see two playgrounds. If you have never been to a play forest before, you might think this is it. But no, these are just two regular playgrounds.

Walk a little further and you will see a sign saying “Play Forest Lorken.” The great thing about this play forest is that it is very spacious. Scattered throughout the forest, there are several pieces of play equipment to climb and scramble on, and there is also a swing.

This lovely area is less than half an hour’s drive by car.

Drouwenerzand Amusement Park

What makes Drouwenerzand Attractiepark special is that after entering the park you can make unlimited use of all playground equipment and attractions, and enjoy fresh fruit, sandwiches, fries, snacks, coffee, tea, lemonade, and ice cream! All of this is always included in the entrance price.

The attractions and playground equipment are selected for children from approximately 3 years old. The wide variety of attractions and play equipment ensures a fantastic day out for both children and adults. From playground equipment and calm attractions to more exciting rides, there are great attractions for every age!

For all information you can visit the website. The park is located about a 35-minute drive from the campsite.

https://drouwenerzand.nl/

Fishing Spot Toms Creek Zwolle

Love fishing? Then you should definitely keep reading…

Toms Creek Zwolle is located in Hattemerbroek (only a 15-minute drive from the center of Zwolle). From the A28 exit you immediately enter a quiet green landscape. This is where Toms Creek Zwolle is located, surrounded by trees, sheep, and meadows.

At this location, Forellenvijver H2O started trout and salmon-trout fishing ponds in 2012. As of September 13, 2021, Toms Creek has taken over. At the beginning of 2022, Toms Creek Zwolle underwent a complete transformation: new ponds with different fish species were created. The location was also redesigned in the typical Toms Creek style, featuring wooden cladding, beautiful Mediterranean trees, and semi-paved paths around the ponds.

This location offers:

• 2 fishing ponds with (salmon) trout

• 3 adventure ponds with sturgeon, carp, and catfish

• 1 Big Game pond with large sturgeon, carp, and catfish

• 1 pond with special fish species (from summer: African catfish)

• Fishing shop with equipment

• Restaurant facilities with terrace

For more information, please visit the website:
https://tomscreek.nl/zwolle/

Dinoland Zwolle

Is your child, or yourself, a true dinosaur fan? Then about a 45-minute drive from the campsite, there is a real Dino-paradise!

At Dinoland, you travel back to the time of the dinosaurs, millions of years ago. You will encounter more than 100 species from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods and can learn all about them.

There’s also plenty to do, such as climbing, laser tag, fossil sieving, and playing mini-golf.

For information and tickets, you can visit the website: https://dinoland.nl/