Achter t Veen, Oudemolense Veld and De Heest Loop

This easy loop is a low-effort, high-reward wander through the Drentsche Aa landscape near the hamlet of Oudemolen (Drenthe)—a patchwork of old stream valleys (“diepjes”), wet meadows, reedbeds, and open fields that stays remarkably flat. Expect ~6 km / ~3.7 mi with essentially ~0 m / ~0 ft of climbing, but don’t underestimate how wet the ground can be: the challenge here is footing, not elevation.

Nearest clear start landmark / address: a very practical place to begin is the Molensteeg car park on Molensteeg in Oudemolen (a recognized Drentsche Aa starting point), close to the village and the route’s wetland sections. (drentscheaa.nl)
If you want a “hard” address to plug into a satnav, the iconic nearby landmark is the historic windmill De Zwaluw, Molensteeg 8, 9484 TE Oudemolen—useful as a meeting point even if you park elsewhere. (en.wikipedia.org)

Getting to the start (car + public transport)

• By car: Aim for Oudemolen (municipality of Tynaarlo, Drenthe) and follow local signs toward Molensteeg; the Molensteeg car park is specifically listed as a Drentsche Aa starting point. (drentscheaa.nl)
  
• By public transport: Oudemolen is a tiny hamlet, so the simplest approach is usually train to Assen (a major nearby rail hub) and then a regional bus/taxi onward toward the Oudemolen/Gasteren area. If you’re building the trip, check current connections and stops in your journey planner and then load the walking line into HiiKER for on-the-ground navigation.

What the terrain feels like (and why it’s “easy”)

Over 6 km (3.7 mi), you’ll be on a mix of: - Firm farm tracks and sandy paths around the higher, drier edges - Narrower grassy lines along drainage ditches and meadow margins - Wetland-adjacent sections where the path can turn soft, slick, or puddled after rain

Even with near-zero elevation gain, plan for mud—especially in and around De Heest and the stream-valley ground. Waterproof footwear is the single best upgrade for comfort here.

Nature, wildlife, and what to look out for

This loop threads through the broader Drentsche Aa system—an area famous for its small, branching streams and valley habitats. The Drentsche Aa is known as one of the few Dutch stream systems that still meanders in a relatively natural way, and locally the waterways carry different “diep” names. (en.wikipedia.org)

In De Heest, you’re walking a landscape that was heavily altered for agriculture about a century ago, then deliberately shifted back toward nature starting in 1995—so you’ll see a “rewilded” valley with water given more space again. (drentscheaa.nl)
Wildlife and plant highlights commonly associated with this area include: - Wetland flowers and stream-edge plants (think marshy, species-rich margins rather than showy alpine blooms) - Insect life around clean, slow water—dragonflies/damselflies are especially noticeable on calm days - Beaver activity is part of the modern story in De Heest’s waterways, and the area is also noted for species like river lamprey in the broader ecological management discussion. (drentscheaa.nl)
Bring binoculars if you enjoy birds: open meadows and reedier edges can be productive, especially in quieter morning hours.

Landmarks and cultural history along the way

You’re in a region where nature and cultural history overlap tightly. The Drentsche Aa landscape