Slokkert, Taarlose Veentje, Balloeerveld and Boswachterij Anloo Loop

This is a long, low-relief Drenthe circuit—about 38 km / 23.6 mi with roughly 100 m / 330 ft of total ascent—linking open heath, small boggy “ven” country, and managed forest around Anloo, Balloo, Taarlo, and the Ballooërveld. Expect a mostly flat day where the challenge is more about time on feet, wind exposure on the heaths, and keeping your feet dry on the wetter sections than it is about climbing.

Nearest practical start landmark (hike head): the village of Anloo (postcode area 9467) is the most logical hub for this loop, with easy access to paths into Boswachterij Anloo (Evertsbos) and onward to the Ballooërveld. If you’re arriving by car, aim for parking around the village center near Magnuskerk (St. Magnus Church), Kerkbrink, Anloo (a well-known local landmark and a reliable “meet point” for navigation).

Getting to the start (car + public transport)

• By car: Anloo sits in Drenthe, roughly 10 km / 6 mi east of Assen. Use Anloo village center (Magnuskerk/Kerkbrink area) as your destination, then pick a signed public car park nearby.
• By public transport: The region is served by buses connecting Assen and surrounding villages. The most dependable plan is: train to Assen, then bus toward Anloo and walk a short distance to the village center. When you build your route, check the nearest stop to “Anloo, centrum/Kerkbrink” in your journey planner and then load the hike in HiiKER for the on-foot portion.

What the terrain feels like over 38 km / 23.6 mi

You’ll rotate through three main landscape types: - Heath and sandy tracks (Balloërveld and edges of the Hondsrug landscape): wide skies, long sightlines, and often a firm but sometimes loose, sandy tread. - Wetland/ven margins (Taarlose Veentje and similar low spots): short sections can be soft underfoot, with muddy edges after rain. - Managed forest and lanes (Boswachterij Anloo/Evertsbos): straighter tracks, shelter from wind, and occasional conifer needles making the surface slick when damp.

Even with only ~100 m / 330 ft of gain, plan for a full-day outing: most hikers will take 8–10+ hours depending on breaks and surface conditions.

Route flow and key places (with planning distances)

0–6 km / 0–3.7 mi: Anloo → Boswachterij Anloo (Evertsbos) Leaving the village, you quickly trade farm edges and sandy lanes for the mixed woodland of Boswachterij Anloo, locally known as Evertsbos. The forest is notably varied—larch, spruce, Scots pine, beech, and long straight avenues—so it’s a good early section to settle into pace. This area is also known for historic traces: burial mounds and even a hunebed (dolmen) in the wider forest complex (often referenced as D11 in local listings), reflecting how densely prehistoric remains are scattered through Drenthe’s sandy ridges.

6–16 km / 3.7–10 mi: Forest edges → Taarlo/Taarlose Veentje area As you arc toward Taarlo, the landscape opens into a patchwork of fields, hedgerows, and low-lying wet pockets. Around Taarlose Veentje, expect the most “foot-care sensitive” part of the day: narrow paths can be damp, and the margins of the ven/boggy ground may force you onto slightly higher, drier lines. After wet weeks, this is where waterproof footwear (or at least quick-draining trail shoes) matters most.

16–28 km / 10–17.4 mi: Ballooërveld (the big open heath) This is the signature middle of the loop: the Ballooërveld is a broad heathland between Gasteren, Rolde, and Loon, with heather, grassier heath, small peat pools, scattered pines, and occasional sand blowouts. It’s also a place where the past is literally underfoot—burial mounds, old cart tracks, and traces of ancient field systems are known features of the area. The openness can make this section feel longer than the map suggests if you’re walking into wind or strong sun.

You may also encounter the