Emmen

Emmen, the largest city in Drenthe, mixes modern neighborhoods with large parks and forests. Visit Wildlands Adventure Zoo, where over a million people go each year to see animals in themed environments. Walk or cycle along the Hondsrug ridge’s paths, which pass ancient stone tombs from 3000 BCE. Each August, the streets fill with cyclists and fans during the Gouden Pijl race. The city grew from small peat-harvesting settlements into a place with shopping areas, museums like Veenpark, and quick access to nature areas like Bargerveen. Its straightforward layout and proximity to forests make it a practical choice for exploring Drenthe.

Wildlands Adventure Zoo

Wildlands Adventure Zoo opened in 2016 on the site of the old Dierenpark Emmen. Divided into tropical, desert, and polar zones, it lets you watch elephants in a savanna-style area, take boat rides near lemurs, or see arctic wolves in a chilled enclosure. The zoo is open year-round, with longer hours from May to September. It’s a 15-minute walk from Emmen’s central train station, making it easy to reach without a car. Families spend hours here thanks to hands-on exhibits and climbing structures for kids.

Forests, Ancient Tombs, and Peatlands

Five megalithic tombs, built over 5,000 years ago, sit within Emmen’s boundaries—one is next to the zoo. The Hondsrug ridge, formed by glaciers, has trails through pine woods and open heathland. Head southeast to Bargerveen, a protected area with peat bogs where rare birds like the European nightjar nest. At Veenpark open-air museum, ride a vintage train through recreated peat-worker villages with cottages from the 1800s. South of the city, flat fields and drainage canals show how locals reclaimed land from marshes over centuries.

Cycling Routes and Trails

Rent a bike at Emmen’s train station to explore Drenthe’s marked paths. Ride north through Hondsrug’s forests to Coevorden, where a 12th-century castle with a moat still stands. Every August, the Gouden Pijl race brings professional cyclists speeding through Emmen’s streets, followed by live music in the evening. Golfers play 18 holes at BurgGolf Emmen, surrounded by heath and birch trees. In colder months, try the Emmerdennen trail, a 4-kilometer loop through quiet pine woods near the city center.

Festivals and Markets

Emmen’s Retropop festival in June hosts acts like Tom Jones and Simple Minds, drawing crowds to outdoor stages. During the BARREL Food Truck Fest, try Dutch stroopwafels, German bratwurst, or Indonesian satay from mobile kitchens. The Atlas Theater schedules comedy shows, plays, and classical music performances year-round. For art, the Museum of Contemporary Tibetan Art in Rensenpark displays intricate scroll paintings and bronze statues. Every Friday, vendors sell fresh cheese, bread, and handmade pottery at Marktplein’s open-air market.

Transportation Connections

Take the direct hourly train from Zwolle to Emmen, which connects to Amsterdam in about 2.5 hours with a transfer. Groningen Airport Eelde, 50 kilometers north, has flights to cities like Munich and Copenhagen. If driving, highways from Zwolle and Groningen pass through farmland before reaching Emmen’s outskirts. Regional buses run from the central station to towns like Assen and Hoogeveen, as well as Meppen across the German border. Local buses cover the city efficiently, but most central hotels and shops are within walking distance.

Growth from Peat Villages to Modern City

Emmen expanded after World War II by merging old peat-harvesting villages such as Noordbarge and Emmermeer. Factories producing textiles and plastics drove growth until the 1980s, when the zoo became a key employer. Only a few historic buildings remain, like the 12th-century tower of Grote Kerk on Marktplein. A Jewish community settled here in the 1840s; their synagogue, destroyed during Nazi occupation, was rebuilt in 1951. Today, healthcare, schools, and energy companies provide most jobs, with some residents still working in nearby oil fields.