Nationaal beek- en esdorpenlandschap Drentsche Aa, National park and nature reserve in Drenthe, Netherlands
The Drentsche Aa is a protected park where meandering streams wind through forests, heathlands, and traditional agricultural fields across the landscape. The streams follow natural paths through this mix of habitats that covers a large area.
This landscape developed over thousands of years through the interaction of natural water systems and farming practices that began in prehistoric times. People have shaped this place since ancient days while learning to work with its natural streams.
The settlements in this area reflect a long tradition of living alongside water systems, with villages arranged in ways that adapted to the natural landscape. Local communities continue to depend on and interact with the streams and forests that shape daily life here.
Visitors can explore the area through an extensive network of walking and cycling paths that are well-marked and free to use. Guided tours are available throughout the year and help you understand the different parts of the park and what makes it special.
This park holds the largest concentration of prehistoric monuments in the entire country, including burial mounds and megalithic structures. These remains show how early people used the region and what importance they held for communities and their dead.
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