08 Westerwolde Emsroute
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert Hans van de Ven (Mr.MRA)
Last edit: 11-03-2025
Route Summary This is the 8th in a series of 43 Endangered ANWB routes. These were published in the Promotors between April 2015 and September 2016.
Westerwolde Emsroute – Motorcycling through fortresses and peatlands
The Westerwolde Emsroute takes you through the varied landscape of southeast Groningen and the neighboring German Emsland. This route combines picturesque fortified towns, vast peatlands and winding roads along the Dortmund-Ems Canal. You drive over the historic border crossings and explore Bourtange, Oudeschans and Sellingen, while also taking a trip to the German Ems region. Due to its historic character, this route gets 3 stars.
The tour starts at Brasserie-Restaurant Pekelahof in Oude Pekela and ends at Tango Oude Pekela, with beautiful stops along the way such as the Bourtange fortress, the Rütenbrock Border Lock and the Theater van de Natuur viewpoint.
Share this route 
Animation
Verdict
Duration
4h 5m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
138.18 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review You start the ride at Brasserie-Restaurant Pekelahof, where a hearty breakfast or a cup of coffee awaits you. From here you drive via Blijham towards Oudeschans, where an impressive historical cannon is a reminder of the military history of this former fortress. The road continues to Bellingwolde, a village with stately manor farms, before you cross the border into Germany. In Rhede and Heede you follow a quiet route along the water and pass the characteristic locks of the Dortmund-Ems Canal. This canal, once an important trade route, now forms a beautiful backdrop for a relaxing ride.
After a short stretch through the German countryside, you return to the Netherlands and reach Ter Apel. Here you pass the Grenssluis Rütenbrock, a historic water crossing that is still in use. The route then winds on to Sellingen, where the Theater van de Natuur offers a beautiful view of the area. This unique open-air theater has revolving benches, allowing you to choose the perfect view yourself. Not far from here is one of the highlights of the route: Bourtange fortress. This perfectly preserved fortress from the 16th century offers a unique insight into the fortification construction of the past. You can take a walk around the ramparts and enjoy the atmospheric streets. The route continues via Wedde and Onstwedde, with quiet country roads and winding dikes. The last kilometers take you back to Oude Pekela, where you can refuel at Tango Oude Pekela, the official end point of the ride.
The Westerwolde Emsroute offers a varied motorcycling experience, from historical fortresses to vast peatlands and canals. The route is ideal for motorcyclists who love quiet roads, history and nature. With a length of approximately 140 kilometers, this is a perfect day trip with sufficient stops for sights and culinary breaks.
Links 
Usage Want to download this route?
You can download the route for free without MyRoute-app account. To do so, open the route and click 'save as'. Want to edit this route?
No problem, start by opening the route. Follow the tutorial and create your personal MyRoute-app account. After registration, your trial starts automatically. 
Disclaimer
Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Nearby routes 
Bremener Harbour
About this region
Bremerhaven (German pronunciation: [ˌbʁeːmɐˈhaːfn̩] (listen), lit. 'Bremener Harbour', Low German: Bremerhoben) is a city at the seaport of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany.
It forms a semi-enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the Weser on its eastern bank, opposite the town of Nordenham. Though a relatively new city, it has a long history as a trade port and today is one of the most important German ports, playing a role in Germany's trade.
Wesermünde was a neighboring city created in 1924 through the merger of Geestemünde and Lehe. In 1939, Bremerhaven was incorporated into Wesermünde, but in 1947 the cities were collectively renamed as Bremerhaven and returned to the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen.
Read more on Wikipedia
It forms a semi-enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the Weser on its eastern bank, opposite the town of Nordenham. Though a relatively new city, it has a long history as a trade port and today is one of the most important German ports, playing a role in Germany's trade.
Wesermünde was a neighboring city created in 1924 through the merger of Geestemünde and Lehe. In 1939, Bremerhaven was incorporated into Wesermünde, but in 1947 the cities were collectively renamed as Bremerhaven and returned to the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen.
View region
Statistics 
42Amount of RX reviews (Bremener Harbour)
19024Amount of visitors (Bremener Harbour)
7601Amount of downloads (Bremener Harbour)
Route Collections in this region The 10 most beautiful car and motorcycle routes in Groningen
Groningen (Gronings: Grönnen or Grunnen, Frisian: Grinslân) is a province in the north of the Netherlands with 584,094 inhabitants (1 January 2019), more than a third of whom live in the capital of the same name, Groningen. In addition to Dutch, Low Saxon (Gronings) is also recognized as an official language in the province.
Not only does it have its own language, but it is also a very beautiful province to tour by car or motorcycle and enjoy all the beauty that the province of Groningen has to offer. For this, the MyRoute app RouteXpert has put together a Top 10 of Car and Motorcycle routes for you.
All routes in this collection have been checked and made equal for TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation by a MyRoute-app RouteXpert.
If you think, I have a very nice route that should certainly not be missing from this collection, send it to:
email: routeexpert@myrouteapp.com
Subject: New Route for the Top 10 collection Province of Groningen composed by Hans van de Ven.
The route will then be reviewed and then added to the Top 10.
To make the Top 10 also the Top 10, 1 route will have to disappear from the Top 10, you can indicate this when submitting the new route.
Have fun with this collection and while driving one of these routes. Enjoy all the beauty that the Netherlands and in particular the province of Groningen has to offer. Click on “View route” to read the review of the chosen route.
I would like to hear your findings about the route(s).
Not only does it have its own language, but it is also a very beautiful province to tour by car or motorcycle and enjoy all the beauty that the province of Groningen has to offer. For this, the MyRoute app RouteXpert has put together a Top 10 of Car and Motorcycle routes for you.
All routes in this collection have been checked and made equal for TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation by a MyRoute-app RouteXpert.
If you think, I have a very nice route that should certainly not be missing from this collection, send it to:
email: routeexpert@myrouteapp.com
Subject: New Route for the Top 10 collection Province of Groningen composed by Hans van de Ven.
The route will then be reviewed and then added to the Top 10.
To make the Top 10 also the Top 10, 1 route will have to disappear from the Top 10, you can indicate this when submitting the new route.
Have fun with this collection and while driving one of these routes. Enjoy all the beauty that the Netherlands and in particular the province of Groningen has to offer. Click on “View route” to read the review of the chosen route.
I would like to hear your findings about the route(s).
View Route Collection
The 10 most beautiful car and motorcycle routes in Drenthe
Drenthe (old, but preferred spelling) or, new, but no preferred spelling: Drenthe is a province in the Netherlands, located in the northeast of the country. Roughly speaking, it borders on the province of Groningen in the north, the German state of Lower Saxony in the east, the province of Overijssel in the south and the province of Friesland in the west. The capital and largest place is Assen, the municipality with the most inhabitants is Emmen.
But who says Drenthe, says Hunnebeds and the Motor Province of the Netherlands with the TT as the annual highlight. Not only a TT, but also a very beautiful province to tour by car or motorcycle and enjoy all the beauty that the province of Drenthe has to offer. For this purpose, a MyRoute app RouteXpert has compiled a Top 10 of Car and Motorcycle routes for you.
All routes in this collection have been checked and made equal for TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation by a MyRoute-app RouteXpert.
If you think, I have a very nice route that should certainly not be missing from this collection, send it to:
email: routeexpert@myrouteapp.com
Subject: New Route for the Top 10 collection Province of Drenthe composed by Hans van de Ven.
The route will then be reviewed and then added to the Top 10.
To make the Top 10 also the Top 10, 1 route will have to disappear from the Top 10, you can indicate this when submitting the new route.
Have fun with this collection and while driving one of these routes. Enjoy all the beauty that the Netherlands and in particular the province of Groningen has to offer. Click on “View route” to read the review of the chosen route.
I would like to hear your findings about the route(s).
But who says Drenthe, says Hunnebeds and the Motor Province of the Netherlands with the TT as the annual highlight. Not only a TT, but also a very beautiful province to tour by car or motorcycle and enjoy all the beauty that the province of Drenthe has to offer. For this purpose, a MyRoute app RouteXpert has compiled a Top 10 of Car and Motorcycle routes for you.
All routes in this collection have been checked and made equal for TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation by a MyRoute-app RouteXpert.
If you think, I have a very nice route that should certainly not be missing from this collection, send it to:
email: routeexpert@myrouteapp.com
Subject: New Route for the Top 10 collection Province of Drenthe composed by Hans van de Ven.
The route will then be reviewed and then added to the Top 10.
To make the Top 10 also the Top 10, 1 route will have to disappear from the Top 10, you can indicate this when submitting the new route.
Have fun with this collection and while driving one of these routes. Enjoy all the beauty that the Netherlands and in particular the province of Groningen has to offer. Click on “View route” to read the review of the chosen route.
I would like to hear your findings about the route(s).
View Route Collection