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The Netherlands🇳🇱 | landmarksHunebedden (dolmens)Boulder tombs, Hondsrug ridge, free access, Borger D27, giant legends | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Hunebedden (dolmens)
👀 For curious travelersunique site ranked #6
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

Most of the Dutch dolmens cost nothing, stand in open woods or fields, and have no closing time, so you can visit at dawn with no one else there. That is the advantage travelers learn too late. They cluster along the Hondsrug ridge in Drenthe, in the northeast Netherlands, and the largest, D27, sits at the edge of Borger. The pattern is simple: big boulders, flat land, little signage. Crowds gather only at the nearby visitor center. The wow-factor is modest, since these are stacked rocks rather than monuments, but the age is real. Early one morning in Borger I heard nothing except wind in the oaks and a woodpecker knocking, and the silence made the 5,000-year-old stones feel oddly close.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #6 unique site in The NetherlandsWhy Hunebedden (dolmens) should be on your travel list

Backpackers make time for the hunebedden because they are the oldest standing structures in the Netherlands, and almost nobody charges you to see them. At D27 in Borger, roughly 22 meters long, you can walk right up and touch boulders hauled here by ice, then moved into place by Neolithic farmers. That scale beats any museum label.

They also fit a bigger route. Drenthe is made for cycling, and a loop linking Bronneger, Drouwen and Rolde takes a day on flat paths through heath and forest. Groningen city and Emmen are both within easy reach by train and bus, so the dolmens work as a countryside break between city stops. Add a rental bike, a picnic and an early start, and you have one of the cheapest, quietest days in the country.

💡 HighlightsWhat this place is best known for

  1. Hunebed D27 in Borger: the largest in the Netherlands, around 22 meters long, with massive capstones still resting on their supports. Its size makes the builders’ effort easy to grasp.
  2. Hunebedcentrum Borger: the museum next door explains the Funnelbeaker people, their pottery, tools and the ice-age origin of the boulders. A paid entry (roughly €12 to 15) that suits rainy days and families.
  3. Hunebed D26 at Bronneger: a smaller tomb in woodland just north of Borger, easy to combine with D27 on foot or by bike. Quiet, with a more atmospheric forest setting.
  4. The Hondsrug landscape: the sandy ridge left by glaciers gave builders dry ground and loose boulders. Cycling its heath, oak woods and farm lanes shows why people settled here.
  5. Drouwen and Rolde dolmens: smaller sites east of the ridge where you
… read more 👉
  1. Hunebed D27 in Borger: the largest in the Netherlands, around 22 meters long, with massive capstones still resting on their supports. Its size makes the builders’ effort easy to grasp.
  2. Hunebedcentrum Borger: the museum next door explains the Funnelbeaker people, their pottery, tools and the ice-age origin of the boulders. A paid entry (roughly €12 to 15) that suits rainy days and families.
  3. Hunebed D26 at Bronneger: a smaller tomb in woodland just north of Borger, easy to combine with D27 on foot or by bike. Quiet, with a more atmospheric forest setting.
  4. The Hondsrug landscape: the sandy ridge left by glaciers gave builders dry ground and loose boulders. Cycling its heath, oak woods and farm lanes shows why people settled here.
  5. Drouwen and Rolde dolmens: smaller sites east of the ridge where you may be alone with the stones. They show how the tombs vary in length and in how much survives.
  6. Eext dolmens: a pair of tombs close to each other in a village setting, useful for comparing shapes and states of preservation.
  7. The “giants” legend panels: local stories credit giants (“hunen”) with building the tombs, which is where the Dutch name comes from. Reading them adds a human layer to the stones.
If time is short, skip the museum and spend it at D27 and D26 instead.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Hunebedden (dolmens)

Historical Canal Tour

Historical Canal Tour

4.9(78) 1h
From €21
per personViator
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
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

The best time for the hunebedden around Borger is May to September, when days run 14 to 17 hours long and bike paths are dry.
  • Spring (April to May): 8 to 17°C (46 to 63°F). Heather is not yet blooming, but fields are green, lambs are out and crowds are thin. Evenings are cold, so pack a windproof layer.
  • Summer (June to August): 15 to 23°C (59 to 73°F), with occasional heat above 28°C (82°F). Daylight lasts until about 10 pm in June. Dutch school holidays (July and August) fill campsites and raise prices by 20 to 40 percent.
  • Autumn (September to October): 8 to 17°C (46 to 63°F). Forest color, mist over the Drenthe heath and cheaper rooms. Daylight shrinks to about 10 hours by late October.
  • Winter (November to March): 0 to 6°C (32 to 43°F), short days of 8 hours, frequent rain and some museum and
… read more 👉
The best time for the hunebedden around Borger is May to September, when days run 14 to 17 hours long and bike paths are dry.
  • Spring (April to May): 8 to 17°C (46 to 63°F). Heather is not yet blooming, but fields are green, lambs are out and crowds are thin. Evenings are cold, so pack a windproof layer.
  • Summer (June to August): 15 to 23°C (59 to 73°F), with occasional heat above 28°C (82°F). Daylight lasts until about 10 pm in June. Dutch school holidays (July and August) fill campsites and raise prices by 20 to 40 percent.
  • Autumn (September to October): 8 to 17°C (46 to 63°F). Forest color, mist over the Drenthe heath and cheaper rooms. Daylight shrinks to about 10 hours by late October.
  • Winter (November to March): 0 to 6°C (32 to 43°F), short days of 8 hours, frequent rain and some museum and cafe closures. Stones look good in frost, and you will often have them to yourself.
Aim for a weekday outside July and August, and book campsites early for Ascension and Pentecost weekends.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
netherlands-unique-site-hunebedden-dolmens
© Google | Hunebed D27

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in The Netherlands

Borger itself is the most practical base, since the biggest dolmen (D27) sits on its doorstep and the Hunebedcentrum is a short walk away. The village is small, quiet and safe, with a supermarket, a few cafes and bike rental. Expect a calm, family and cyclist crowd rather than a party scene.
Anloo and Gieten, 10 to 15 minutes by bike or a short bus ride, offer a similar rural feel with simple guesthouses and farm stays. They suit travelers who want quiet evenings and heath walks straight from the door.
Assen, about 20 km (12 miles) north, is the best choice for anyone who wants a social atmosphere. … read more 👉
Borger itself is the most practical base, since the biggest dolmen (D27) sits on its doorstep and the Hunebedcentrum is a short walk away. The village is small, quiet and safe, with a supermarket, a few cafes and bike rental. Expect a calm, family and cyclist crowd rather than a party scene.
Anloo and Gieten, 10 to 15 minutes by bike or a short bus ride, offer a similar rural feel with simple guesthouses and farm stays. They suit travelers who want quiet evenings and heath walks straight from the door.
Assen, about 20 km (12 miles) north, is the best choice for anyone who wants a social atmosphere. It has a train station, more restaurants, bars and a wider choice of budget rooms, and it connects easily to Groningen. Buses run to Borger, though services thin out in the evening and on Sundays.
Campsites around Borger, Exloo and Drouwen are the budget favorite from April to October. Many rent small cabins or have pitches for tents, and the shared kitchens and barbecue areas make it easy to meet other cyclists and hikers. Rural Drenthe has very low crime, so the main concern is booking early in summer.
Best hostels in The Netherlands


Best quality hotels in The Netherlands

👛 Costs (as of 15 October 2026)Money, prices, and spending tips

A backpacker can see the Drenthe hunebedden for roughly USD 60 to 110 a day, because the stones themselves are free to visit and costs come mostly from lodging and food.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dolmen sitesUSD 0Almost all hunebedden lie in open forest or fields with free access at any hour.
Hunebedcentrum museumUSD 10 to 16Adult tickets sit in this range, with lower prices for children and discounts for Museumkaart holders.
CampingUSD 22 to 40Per pitch for one or two people, with higher rates in July and August.
Hostel or simple roomUSD 45 to 90Rare in the villages, so many travelers use B&Bs, cabins or stay in Assen.
Bike rentalUSD 12 to 18 a dayElectric bikes cost about USD 28 to 40 a day and make the 20 to 40 km loops easy.
Local busesUSD 3 to 8 per tripRegional buses link Assen,
… read more 👉
A backpacker can see the Drenthe hunebedden for roughly USD 60 to 110 a day, because the stones themselves are free to visit and costs come mostly from lodging and food.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dolmen sitesUSD 0Almost all hunebedden lie in open forest or fields with free access at any hour.
Hunebedcentrum museumUSD 10 to 16Adult tickets sit in this range, with lower prices for children and discounts for Museumkaart holders.
CampingUSD 22 to 40Per pitch for one or two people, with higher rates in July and August.
Hostel or simple roomUSD 45 to 90Rare in the villages, so many travelers use B&Bs, cabins or stay in Assen.
Bike rentalUSD 12 to 18 a dayElectric bikes cost about USD 28 to 40 a day and make the 20 to 40 km loops easy.
Local busesUSD 3 to 8 per tripRegional buses link Assen, Borger and Emmen. Payment is by OV-chipkaart or contactless card.
FoodUSD 18 to 40Supermarket picnics cost USD 8 to 12. A cafe lunch is USD 10 to 18 and a restaurant dinner USD 22 to 35.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQCommon questions from travelers

The hunebedden are Neolithic stone tombs in Drenthe, in the northeast Netherlands, built from glacial boulders roughly 5,000 years ago. About 50 survive in the province, and the largest is D27 at Borger, around 22 meters long. Most are free to visit and open at all hours.
Plan two to three hours if you only want D27, the nearby D26 at Bronneger and the Hunebedcentrum museum in Borger. A full day of cycling lets you add Drouwen, Rolde or Eext and explore the Hondsrug ridge. The museum alone takes about 1 to 2 hours, and entry is roughly €12 to 15.
Borger is the usual base, reached from Groningen or Emmen by regional train and bus, typically within 45 to 75 minutes depending on connections. Once there, D27 is a short walk from the village center, and D26 is a few minutes by bike. Renting a bike in Borger or Emmen is the easiest way to link several sites, as the terrain is flat.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Dutch landmarks near Hunebedden (dolmens)

Explore more nearby:

  • Muiderslot—Brick moat castle, timed tours, Muiderkring, Vecht mouth, harbor setting| 135 km away
  • Zaanse Schans—Working mills, dye and oil and sawmill, clog workshop, cheese farm, Zaans Museum| 143 km away
  • Castle de Haar—Moated drawbridge, Cuypers neo-Gothic, Knights’ Hall, tapestried rooms, Haarzuilens| 153 km away

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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

What surprised me most was how ordinary the setting is. No gates, no ticket booth, just stones beside a quiet lane and a woodpecker somewhere above. That ease makes them moving. Know the limit, though: these are rocks, and a quick stop will feel thin. Bring a bike, pair a few sites, and the landscape does the rest.

✈️ 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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