"A small place in Drenthe called de Kiel." De Kiel by tompt

De Kiel is a very small town in Drenthe. There are no shops in de Kiel, but there is one restaurant and lots of places to stay.
We stayed at minicamping Klaver Vier. The long weekend of Whitsuntide promised to be sunny and warm so we joined Peter and Willeke on a camping weekend.

The name de Kiel derived from the spot where road cross in an odd way. At this point once 7 Marken (sort of old municipalities) bordered. There is a stone marking this spot, at the entrance to the woods.

Oxes enjoying the cool water

As de Kiel itself has little to offer you have to venture out. The woods are on 5 minutes away on foot.
There is a marked 5km route. The blue wooden poles brings you through variable types of forest and along some pools (not for swimming). It is a nice walk, taking just over an hour to see and enjoy everything.
But if you buy a map from a VVV office (in a larger neighbouring town like Borger) you can create your own longer routes. We walked to the megalithic grave called 'de Paapse Kerk'. It took us 5 relaxing hours including lunch near the half way point.

Cycling through Drenthe

If you don't like camping you can also rent a holiday chalet in de Kiel. But where ever you sleep, you have to find entertainment elsewhere.
Besides walking this area is great for riding your bicycle. In the woods near Schoonoord (2km away) there are special off road tracks.
And for the normal cyclist you can follow one of the many signposted ANWB routes.
We followed the Drenthse Bosroute. It took is through woods and fields and we came along camp Westerbork and the radio telescopes nearby.
This route will be described better in our tips and travelogues.