Borger with Kids: Top 10 Things To Do and Family Holiday Guide

Borger is home to the largest hunebed in the Netherlands, and that alone sets it apart from most Drenthe villages. The D9 megalithic tomb sits right in the centre of town, and the Hunebedcentrum next to it is one of the best places in the country to help children actually understand what they’re looking at. Add the surrounding Hondsrug landscape and you have a day with real substance, not just a string of generic stops.

Quick facts for families visiting Borger

Top 10 things to do in Borger

1. Visit the Hunebedcentrum and walk straight out to the D9 hunebed alongside it — the combination of indoor context and outdoor monument works well for most ages.
2. Follow the hunebed trail on the Hondsrug; there are several megalithic tombs within a short distance of Borger and cycling between them keeps the pace relaxed.
3. Head out to Drouwenerzand on the Drenthse Hondsrug if the group wants water, beach and open space — it is close enough to combine with a morning in Borger.
4. Choose one paid activity as your anchor and keep the rest of the day unscheduled enough to follow the group’s energy.
5. Use a sit-down lunch in Borger as a genuine mid-day reset rather than eating on the move.
6. Walk or cycle through the village and the surrounding heath and woodland — the landscape around Borger rewards slow movement more than a rushed loop.
7. Keep a solid indoor backup ready, such as the Hunebedcentrum itself if you skipped it in the morning, for an afternoon rain shower.
8. Pair Borger with D20, the outdoor activity centre nearby, if older children or teenagers want something more physically active.
9. Pick up a local snack — a stroopwafel, ice cream or something from a village bakery — and sit near the hunebed for a few minutes of doing nothing in particular.
10. Finish the day with the lowest-effort option left on your list, not the one that requires the most driving or walking.

Top 10 things to do in Borger for kids

1. Let children climb around the D9 hunebed and touch the stones — it is genuinely one of the few prehistoric monuments in the Netherlands where that is possible.
2. Visit Kabouterland if you have younger children who need something playful and small-scale after the history stop.
3. Ask children to count how many hunebedden they spot on a short cycling or walking route — there are enough on the Hondsrug to make it a real challenge.
4. Try the Outdoor Center Boomkroonpad if the group is ready for something active at height — walking through the treetops changes the mood of a day quickly.
5. Give children a simple drawing or writing task at the Hunebedcentrum: what would you have used this tomb for, and what would you have left inside?
6. Build in proper playground time somewhere in the village so younger children have a moment that belongs entirely to them.
7. Pack a snack in a bag they carry themselves — it gives small children a sense of purpose on a longer walk and buys time if lunch runs late.
8. Let each child photograph one thing that surprised them, and compare the results over dinner.
9. If the afternoon energy drops, swap the final planned stop for a quiet walk along the edge of the heath rather than pushing through a tired group.
10. On the way home, ask everyone for one thing they would tell a friend about Borger — children often name something you would never have predicted.

Best family activities in Borger

The Hunebedcentrum is the obvious starting point, and it earns its reputation — the exhibitions are well-suited to children who have never thought much about prehistoric life, and the D9 tomb right outside gives everything inside an immediate physical anchor. Most families spend an hour or two there before moving on to the Hondsrug landscape itself, where the walking and cycling routes are easy enough for primary-school-age children without feeling too short for adults.

For families who want more physical variety, Drouwenerzand on the Drenthse Hondsrug adds a beach and water element that pairs naturally with a morning in Borger, while Kabouterland suits younger children who need something lighter and more playful in the afternoon. The area around Borger rewards families who are happy to slow down and move through the landscape rather than tick off a list of sights.

Where to stay near Borger

The area around Borger has a good spread of forest campsites, holiday parks and lodge-style accommodation — most of it set in the kind of quiet Drenthe landscape that makes evenings genuinely restful after a day of walking or cycling.

When choosing where to stay, think about how early you want to reach the Hunebedcentrum and whether you plan to use Borger as a base for day trips across the Hondsrug. Proximity to a good cycle path or the main family attractions tends to matter more in practice than any single feature of the accommodation itself.

Nearby places to visit

1. Drouwenerzand on the Drenthse Hondsrug is the closest beach-and-water option and works well as a half-day addition when children need open space and something to splash around in.
2. The hunebedden trail along the Hondsrug connects Borger to several other megalithic tombs by bike, making it easy to extend the day without needing a car.
3. Assen and Emmen are both within easy reach for a larger museum, indoor pool or covered attraction if the weather turns or you want a change of pace mid-week.
4. The forests and heathland immediately around Borger are worth treating as a destination in themselves rather than just a backdrop — a slow walk or bike ride through the landscape is one of the better things to do in the area.

Family travel tips

1. Bring an extra layer even in summer — the Hondsrug heathland can feel exposed when the wind picks up in the afternoon.
2. The D9 hunebed is best visited early in the day before tour groups arrive; it is a small site and feels very different when you have it to yourselves.
3. Leave a gap in the afternoon schedule rather than filling every slot — the best moments in Borger often happen when the plan runs out.
4. Give children a small role in navigating between stops, even if it is just holding the map or spotting the next signpost.
5. If you are cycling, the routes around Borger are well-signposted but distances between points can be longer than they look — check the total before setting off with small children.
6. Do not feel obliged to stay until closing time at any attraction; leaving while interest is still high means the memory of the place stays positive.

FAQ

Is Borger good for kids?

Yes — the combination of the Hunebedcentrum, the D9 hunebed and the surrounding Hondsrug landscape gives children something genuinely unusual, and the scale of the village keeps the day from becoming overwhelming.

What are the best things to do in Borger with kids?

Start with the Hunebedcentrum and the D9 tomb, then follow the group’s energy — outdoor roaming on the Hondsrug, a stop at Kabouterland for younger children, or something more active like the Outdoor Center Boomkroonpad if the group is ready for it.

How long should families spend in Borger?

A half-day covers the Hunebedcentrum and the immediate area comfortably. A full day makes sense if you plan to cycle part of the hunebed trail or combine Borger with Drouwenerzand or another nearby stop.

What can families do in Borger when it rains?

The Hunebedcentrum is the strongest indoor option in Borger itself — it is substantial enough to fill a rainy morning rather than just a quick shelter stop. If the rain is set in for the day, Assen and Emmen both have larger indoor attractions within easy driving distance.

Where should families stay near Borger?

Forest holiday parks and campsites in the Hondsrug area put you close to both Borger and the wider network of cycling routes and family attractions. Staying within a short cycling distance of the village centre makes mornings much simpler, especially with young children.

Nearby Attractions

• Drouwenerzand (Drenthse Hondsrug)
• D20
• Kabouterland
• Outdoor Center Boomkroonpad
• Molenveld