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.
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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.
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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'.
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Groningen
About this region
Groningen ( GROHN-ing-ən, also UK: GRON-, US: KHROHN-, Dutch: [ˈɣroːnɪŋə(n)] (listen); Gronings: Grunn or Grunnen) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands. It is the largest city in the north of the Netherlands. As of December 2020, it had 233,218 inhabitants. It has a land area of 168.93 km2 (65.22 sq mi), and a total area, including water, of 180.21 km2 (69.58 sq mi). Its population density is 1,367 residents per km2 (3,540 per square mile). On 1 January 2019, it was merged with the municipalities of Ten Boer and Haren. The Groningen-Assen metropolitan area has about half a million inhabitants. Groningen is a university city, and students comprise an estimated 25% of its total population. Groningen was established more than 950 years ago. Historically, it was a semi-independent city-state, a member of the Hanseatic League, and the dominant regional power in the north of the Netherlands.
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Route Collections in this region The 10 most beautiful car and motorcycle routes in the Netherlands
These 10 routes in the Netherlands have been carefully selected, checked and made equal for TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation by a MyRoute-app RouteXpert. The 10 most beautiful motorcycle and car routes in the Netherlands are always a snapshot, and a personal opinion of the reviewer. This does not alter the fact that every lover of beautiful roads and interesting sights will enjoy these routes.
The ten routes are spread over 10 provinces, we only skipped Flevoland and South Holland. Interesting routes can also be found in the MyRoute app RouteXpert library, but we still want to stick to the 10 most beautiful and not the 12 most beautiful.
Enjoy the many fortresses and castles that are included in the routes, such as Fort Veldhuis in North Holland. But also take a look at the route southeast of Nijmegen and visit the impressive Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial. The route 'Overijssel in bird's eye view' includes the oldest house in the Netherlands and the route along the IJssel is probably the most beautiful piece of asphalt in the Netherlands.
This way there is something for everyone in this route collection. If you do not agree with these 10 routes, please send us an e-mail, indicate which route(s) should be removed and which route you would like to see instead. Maybe your route will be included in this collection of the 10 most beautiful routes in the Netherlands!
Email: info@myrouteapp.com
The ten routes are spread over 10 provinces, we only skipped Flevoland and South Holland. Interesting routes can also be found in the MyRoute app RouteXpert library, but we still want to stick to the 10 most beautiful and not the 12 most beautiful.
Enjoy the many fortresses and castles that are included in the routes, such as Fort Veldhuis in North Holland. But also take a look at the route southeast of Nijmegen and visit the impressive Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial. The route 'Overijssel in bird's eye view' includes the oldest house in the Netherlands and the route along the IJssel is probably the most beautiful piece of asphalt in the Netherlands.
This way there is something for everyone in this route collection. If you do not agree with these 10 routes, please send us an e-mail, indicate which route(s) should be removed and which route you would like to see instead. Maybe your route will be included in this collection of the 10 most beautiful routes in the Netherlands!
Email: info@myrouteapp.com
View Route Collection
The 10 most beautiful car and motorcycle routes in Friesland
Friesland officially, Frisian: Fryslân is a province in the north of the Netherlands. Friesland had 660,560 inhabitants in 2018. The capital is Leeuwarden. In addition to Dutch, Frisian has the status of administrative language in the province. But who does not know Friesland from the Elfstedentocht? An unparalleled skating festival, unfortunately it has been a long time since the last Elfsteden tour was held in Friesland, January 4, 1997 to be precise.
Not only your own language and a skating tour along the 11 Frisian cities, but also a very beautiful province to tour by car or motorcycle and enjoy all the beauty that the province of Friesland 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 Friesland compiled 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 Friesland 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 your own language and a skating tour along the 11 Frisian cities, but also a very beautiful province to tour by car or motorcycle and enjoy all the beauty that the province of Friesland 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 Friesland compiled 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 Friesland 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