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The Netherlands🇳🇱 | hikesWesterborkpadCamp Westerbork, railway track, radio telescope, Hooghalen Heath | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Westerborkpad
👌 Worth visitinghike ranked #9
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

The decision most walkers face is whether to treat Westerborkpad as a pure walk or to start with the camp museum, and the deciding factor is daylight: the memorial center needs a couple of hours, which shrinks the walking day. The route sits in the province of Drenthe, around Hooghalen, with heath, pine plantations and sandy lanes that stay flat and easy underfoot. The pattern here is quiet and gentle, with little elevation and few dramatic views, so the weight comes from history rather than scenery. Trains reach Hooghalen station, though the last stretch to the start is a walk or short bus ride. Compared with the Dwingelderveld loops nearby, it is less showy but simpler to reach. After one walk I ate a kroket on a roll with coffee for about €7 at a roadside café, and the crisp shell and salty mustard felt strangely right after the silence.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #9 hike in The NetherlandsWhat makes it a must-see hike

Backpackers come for the story as much as the path. The route begins at the site of Camp Westerbork, the transit camp from which Anne Frank and about 100,000 others were deported, so the walk gives that history physical context in a way a museum visit alone cannot. It also works as a low-effort day: terrain is flat, distances can be shortened or stretched using the heath lanes, and nothing requires special gear beyond sturdy shoes. Access is the other draw. Hooghalen station sits on the Assen to Meppel line, so you can arrive without a car and tuck the walk between Groningen and Zwolle on a longer Dutch route. Nearby farmland and heath add easy variety if you want to keep walking after the memorial.

💡 HighlightsMust-see experiences and standout moments

  1. Herinneringscentrum Kamp Westerbork: The memorial center and camp grounds explain how the transit camp operated, with a marked field of the barrack outlines and the preserved railway line.
  2. The Railway Track: A length of the original rail line stays visible, with a few symbolic carriages, which makes the deportation story tangible.
  3. Westerbork Radio Telescope: Fourteen white dishes in a line stand in the fields near the camp, a startling contrast with the memorial landscape.
  4. Hooghalen Heath: Open heather and pine stands give the route its calm stretches, with purple bloom in late summer.
  5. Village of Hooghalen: A small stop for coffee and a bite, useful for refilling before the walk back to the station.
If time is short, skip the village stop and spend the daylight on the camp grounds and railway track.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Westerborkpad

Historical Canal Tour

Historical Canal Tour

4.9(78) 1h
From €21
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Groningen: Terrace Boat Experience with a Cozy Bar: 1 hour

Groningen: Terrace Boat Experience with a Cozy Bar: 1 hour

4.4(59) 1h
From €15
per personViator
Groningen: Terrace Boat Experience with a Cozy Bar: 1.5 Hours

Groningen: Terrace Boat Experience with a Cozy Bar: 1.5 Hours

4.4(43) 1h 30m
From €17
per personViator
Perfumery Exploration Workshop in Groningen

Perfumery Exploration Workshop in Groningen

5.0(26) 3h
From €75
per personViator
Groningen: 2 Hour Party Booze Cruise with Unlimited Drinks

Groningen: 2 Hour Party Booze Cruise with Unlimited Drinks

5.0(26) 2h
From €38
per personViator
e-Scavenger hunt Groningen: Explore the city at your own pace

e-Scavenger hunt Groningen: Explore the city at your own pace

4.3(28) 3h
From €31
per personViator
Discover Groningen in this Outside Escape city game tour!

Discover Groningen in this Outside Escape city game tour!

4.7(12)
From €28
per personViator
Groningen: Canal Cruise - open boat (optional) Audio Guide

Groningen: Canal Cruise - open boat (optional) Audio Guide

4.9(9) 1h
From €19.50
per personViator
Murder City Game with Live Game Supervisor in Groningen

Murder City Game with Live Game Supervisor in Groningen

4.6(9) 3h
From €23
per personViator
Groningen: Relaxing boat tour with unlimited drinks: 1.5 hours

Groningen: Relaxing boat tour with unlimited drinks: 1.5 hours

5.0(5) 1h 30m
From €35
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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

  • Spring (April to May): The best window for the Westerborkpad, with highs of 12 to 18°C (54 to 64°F), long light (about 14 to 16 hours by May) and heath and woodland turning green. Crowds stay light.
  • Summer (June to August): Highs of 19 to 23°C (66 to 73°F), up to 17 hours of daylight and occasional heat or thunderstorms. Cyclists and school groups increase around Westerbork, and nearby lodging costs more.
  • Autumn (September to October): Highs of 11 to 18°C (52 to 64°F), colorful forest edges and quiet paths. Rain becomes more frequent and daylight shrinks to about 11 hours by late October.
  • Winter (November to March): Highs of 3 to 7°C (37 to 45°F), frost, only 8 hours of light and muddy tracks. Prices are lowest.
Aim for a weekday in May or September for dry paths, soft light and the best rates.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: below average for travelingFEBFebruary: below average for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: good for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: below average for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.

Best hostels in The Netherlands


Best quality hotels in The Netherlands

🥾 Hike detailsTrail overview: what to expect on the hike

Total Distance: Roughly 10 to 20 km depending on the loop you choose around the camp and heath.
Estimated Duration: 3 to 6 hours of walking, plus 1.5 to 2 hours if you visit the memorial center.
Difficulty: Easy. The terrain is flat and mostly paved or packed sand.
Starting Point: Hooghalen, in Drenthe.
  • Public Transport: Trains stop at Hooghalen station on the Assen to Meppel line; from there it is a short walk or local bus to the camp.
Major Landmarks:
  • Camp Westerbork memorial: Museum, barrack outlines and the preserved railway.
  • Radio telescope array: Fourteen dishes visible across the fields.
Terrain
… read more 👉
Total Distance: Roughly 10 to 20 km depending on the loop you choose around the camp and heath.
Estimated Duration: 3 to 6 hours of walking, plus 1.5 to 2 hours if you visit the memorial center.
Difficulty: Easy. The terrain is flat and mostly paved or packed sand.
Starting Point: Hooghalen, in Drenthe.
  • Public Transport: Trains stop at Hooghalen station on the Assen to Meppel line; from there it is a short walk or local bus to the camp.
Major Landmarks:
  • Camp Westerbork memorial: Museum, barrack outlines and the preserved railway.
  • Radio telescope array: Fourteen dishes visible across the fields.
Terrain and Scenery: Flat sandy lanes, forest tracks and cycle paths across open heath, with wide Drenthe skies.
Vegetation: Heather, scots pine, birch and small patches of grassland and farmland.
Wildlife: Roe deer, rabbits, buzzards and heathland birds are the most likely sightings.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

The Westerborkpad is a flat, well-marked route through Drenthe farmland, heath and forest, so serious hazards are rare. Rain is the main variable. Weather swings fast across open fields, and wind makes 10°C feel much colder, so pack a waterproof shell. Paths can turn muddy or flooded after rain, so wear shoes with grip. Navigation is easy with the waymarks, though a downloaded map helps at junctions. Shared tracks mean you should keep right and watch for cyclists and farm vehicles on country lanes. Ticks live in tall grass and heath from spring to autumn, so wear long trousers and check your skin afterward. Carry water, since refill spots between villages are limited. Keep to marked paths in nature reserves and leash any dog near grazing animals.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Plan on 3 to 6 hours of walking, plus 1.5 to 2 hours if you visit the memorial center at Camp Westerbork. A leisurely day from Hooghalen station covers a 10 to 20 km loop. Most people finish within a single afternoon.
The walk is easy, with flat sandy lanes and paved paths around Hooghalen in Drenthe. There are no real climbs, so fitness matters little beyond comfortable shoes. A 10 to 20 km day is manageable for most walkers.
No guide or permit is needed to walk the surrounding heath and lanes around Hooghalen. The memorial center at Camp Westerbork charges an admission fee, usually in the range of €10 to 15. Reaching the start is simple by train to Hooghalen station on the Assen to Meppel line.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Dutch hikes near Westerborkpad

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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Westerborkpad works best as a half-day inside a bigger Drenthe loop. Pair it with a night in Assen or a morning in Groningen, or follow it with the heath trails of Dwingelderveld for contrast. It is not a scenic challenge, and the history is heavy, so leave time to sit afterward.

✈️ When did I visit The Netherlands?
Netherlands is my home base, so whenever I don’t travel, you can find me in this tiny spot on the globe. When friends from abroad visit me, it’s the time to actually explore my own country as a traveler.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in The Netherlands, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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