Vasserheide, Braamberg and Manderheide Loop

You’ll be walking a classic slice of Noordoost-Twente (Overijssel): sandy forest tracks, quiet heathland, and open “essen” farmland on gently rolling ground. Even though the overall elevation gain is close to 0 m (0 ft), expect constant small rises and dips—more “soft undulation” than true climbing—so it stays easy but never boring.

Plan on ~17 km / ~10.6 mi. At an easy pace with stops for viewpoints and landmarks, most hikers take 4–5 hours.

Getting to the start (and what “near” means here) This loop is typically started from the **Vasserheide trailhead (Startpunt Vasserheide, keuzepunt D71)** on the edge of the Vasserheide area. The nearest usable “address-style” reference is the junction area of **Beekzijdeweg / Lädderken near Mander/Vasse (municipality of Tubbergen)**, which is the signed startpoint used by local route networks. ([wandeleninoverijssel.nl](https://wandeleninoverijssel.nl/wandelroutes/vasse/vasserheide/geel?utm_source=openai))

By car - Aim for Startpunt Vasserheide (D71) near the Beekzijdeweg/Lädderken junction; parking is typically informal/small and can fill on sunny weekends. Arrive early if you want a quiet start.

By public transport - The most practical approach is usually via Vasse and then a short taxi/bike ride or a longer walk-in. For example, Landschap Overijssel notes a bus stop at Vasse (RK kerk) for routes in this area, with a walk-in option from there to nearby starts. ([landschapoverijssel.nl](https://www.landschapoverijssel.nl/routes/vasse-mandercirkels?utm_source=openai)) - If you’re building the day around buses, use HiiKER to pin the exact startpoint and check the walk-in distance from the nearest stop you choose.

What the route feels like underfoot Most of the loop is on **wide sandy forest roads**, **narrower pine-and-oak singletrack**, and **heathland paths** that can be soft and springy. After rain, the low spots can hold water and the sand can turn into a slow, sticky paste; in dry spells, the sand gets loose and energy-sapping. Footwear with decent tread is enough—no special kit required.

Because the terrain is flat-to-gently-rolling, the main “difficulty” factors are: - Distance (17 km / 10.6 mi) - Surface drag (sand) - Exposure on open heath/farmland edges (wind/sun)

Landmarks and nature you’ll pass Early on, you’ll settle into the **Vasserheide** character: a mix of woodland and heath that feels surprisingly spacious for the Netherlands. This area is often described as an “outstretched forest-and-heath” landscape, and it’s a good place to watch the scenery shift quickly from darker conifer stands to brighter open patches. ([wandelroutesoverijssel.fandom.com](https://wandelroutesoverijssel.fandom.com/nl/wiki/Vasserheide?utm_source=openai))

As you arc toward Braamberg, you’re moving through a landscape shaped by Ice Age processes, which is why you get these subtle height differences and a patchwork of fields, hedgerows, and small woods. Braamberg itself is a modest hill (by Dutch standards) and part of a cluster of local rises between Vasse and Hezingen; the area is managed with a mix of farmland and woodland, including varied deciduous forest. ([visittubbergen.nl](https://www.visittubbergen.nl/wat-te-doen/activiteiten/natuur/2369-Braamberg%2C-Haamberg%2C-Tutenberg/?utm_source=openai))

On the Manderheide side, the feel becomes more open again—heath, scattered shrubs, and nature “fields” managed to keep the heath from turning back into forest. The Manderheide is explicitly being managed/restored as an open heath habitat (a Natura 2000 context), which is why you may notice active management such as clearing or changes in vegetation structure. ([projectspringendal.nl](https://projectspringendal.nl/gebied/manderheide/?utm_source=openai))

The “Cirkels van Jannink” (Mandercirkels): the standout cultural landmark One of the most distinctive features you can encounter in this wider area is the **Cirkels van Jannink**: two large, perfectly round fields laid out as an agricultural experiment inspired by North American practices. They’re widely regarded as a major Dutch landscape-art/cultural-landscape feature and are often described as the largest landscape art project in the Netherlands. ([projectspringendal.nl](https://projectspringendal.nl/gebied/manderheide/?utm_source=openai)