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

Hoogeveen’s compact centre means most families can park once — there is free parking near the Hoofdstraat — and reach the main shopping street, canal-side paths and playgrounds on foot without retracing their steps. The town is small enough to cover the core in half a day, yet large enough to fill a full day if you mix the centre with a short drive out into Drenthe. That combination of easy access and genuine flexibility is what makes it work well with children.

Quick facts for families visiting Hoogeveen

Top 10 things to do in Hoogeveen

1. Walk the Hoofdstraat from end to end — it is short enough for young children and has benches, shop windows and canal views to break the pace.
2. Follow the Hoogeveensche Vaart canal path for a flat, buggy-friendly route that takes you away from traffic quickly.
3. Choose one paid or ticketed activity for the day and keep the rest of the plan unstructured so you can respond to how the group is doing.
4. Use a sit-down lunch in the centre as a deliberate mid-day pause rather than rushing on to the next stop.
5. Check the local market calendar — Hoogeveen’s market days bring extra energy to the centre and give children something to look at between food stalls.
6. Drive out to Spaarbankbos, a wooded area close to Hoogeveen, for a short forest walk or a longer trail if the group has energy to spare.
7. Keep a rainy-day plan ready — an indoor play centre, a covered shopping arcade or a longer cafe stop all work when the weather shifts.
8. If you have a car and a full day, pair the town with a visit to Dwingelderveld National Park for wide open heathland that feels completely different from the urban centre.
9. Save the highest-energy stop — playground, open field or forest — for the afternoon, when sitting still at a table becomes harder for younger children.
10. Build in a deliberate end point, whether that is ice cream, a final canal-side bench or picking up something from a bakery, so the day has a clear and satisfying finish.

Top 10 things to do in Hoogeveen for kids

1. Let children navigate one section of the town using a simple printed map or a phone map they hold themselves — it gives them a job and slows the pace usefully.
2. Find the canal and let younger children count boats, ducks or bridges along a short stretch before moving on.
3. Head to Bird Park Ruinen, a short drive from Hoogeveen, where children can walk among free-flying birds in an unusually immersive setting.
4. For a bigger day out, Attractie- & Vakantiepark Slagharen is within reach and offers rides and attractions that work well as a standalone family day rather than a bolt-on.
5. Pack a ball or a frisbee so any open green space — park, field or wide pavement — becomes a stop in itself rather than just a place to pass through.
6. Give children a small spending budget for the market or a bakery and let them choose their own snack independently.
7. Look for the outdoor sculptures and public art in the Hoogeveen centre and challenge children to photograph each one — it turns a walk into something with a clear purpose.
8. If the group has mixed ages, split the afternoon: younger children to a playground while older ones get a longer walk or a look inside a shop or gallery.
9. Time a visit to Spaarbankbos for late afternoon when the light through the trees is good and the crowds from the morning have thinned.
10. On the drive back, let children vote on one final stop — even five minutes at a roadside viewpoint or a farm shop gives the day an ending they helped choose.

Best family activities in Hoogeveen

Hoogeveen suits families best when the day is built around the town’s natural rhythm rather than a packed itinerary. The flat canal-side paths and compact centre mean younger children can walk more than they would in a larger city, and there are enough small stops — a playground here, a bakery there — to maintain momentum without anyone feeling rushed.

For families who want to go beyond the town itself, the surrounding area adds real variety. Spaarbankbos sits just outside Hoogeveen and offers shaded forest paths that work well even on warm days. Dwingelderveld National Park, a short drive further into Drenthe, opens up into broad heathland that gives children room to run and families a genuine sense of Drenthe’s landscape. Bird Park Ruinen is a strong choice for younger children especially, combining outdoor space with close animal encounters in a way that holds attention well.

Where to stay near Hoogeveen

Staying close to the centre makes the morning easier — particularly if you are combining a town visit with a day trip into Drenthe. Walking distance to the Hoofdstraat and the canal paths means you avoid moving the car repeatedly, which matters more than it sounds once children are involved.

Bed and Breakfast De Heerlijkheid Ruinerwold, located in the nearby village of Ruinerwold, is worth considering for families who want a quieter, more rural base with easy access to both Hoogeveen and the wider Drenthe countryside. For those who prefer a holiday park setting with outdoor facilities already on site, there are forest and nature-based options within the province that pair well with days in Hoogeveen.

Nearby places to visit

1. Spaarbankbos — a wooded area directly accessible from Hoogeveen, good for a short forest walk or a longer trail without needing to drive far.
2. Dwingelderveld National Park — one of the largest heathland areas in the Netherlands, a short drive from Hoogeveen and particularly good for cycling and open-air walking.
3. Bird Park Ruinen — a bird park near Ruinen where children can walk among free-flying tropical and exotic birds, unusual enough to stand apart from a standard zoo visit.
4. Attractie- & Vakantiepark Slagharen — a theme and holiday park within driving distance, well suited to a dedicated family day with rides and attractions for a range of ages.

Family travel tips

1. Confirm parking before you set off — Hoogeveen has free options near the centre, but knowing exactly where you are heading avoids a frustrating start.
2. Set one clear anchor activity for the day and treat everything else as optional so changes of plan do not feel like failure.
3. Bring rain layers regardless of the forecast — Drenthe weather shifts quickly, and a dry morning can turn by early afternoon.
4. Treat playgrounds and canal benches as genuine stops rather than places to linger only when something goes wrong.
5. Schedule the snack stop before anyone mentions being hungry — it is a better system than waiting for the first complaint.
6. Wrap up the day while the group still has something left in the tank; leaving on a high note is easier to repeat on the next trip.

FAQ

Is Hoogeveen good for kids?

Yes, particularly for families who prefer a relaxed pace. The flat centre, canal paths and nearby green spaces like Spaarbankbos make it manageable with younger children, and there is enough variety to keep older ones engaged too.

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

Walking the canal paths, exploring the town centre on a market day and combining the visit with a nearby stop — Bird Park Ruinen for younger children, Dwingelderveld National Park for families who want outdoor space — all work well. Spaarbankbos is a good addition if you want a forest element without driving far.

How long should families spend in Hoogeveen?

A relaxed half-day covers the town centre comfortably. Add a full day if you plan to combine Hoogeveen with a nearby destination such as Dwingelderveld or Attractie- & Vakantiepark Slagharen.

What can families do in Hoogeveen when it rains?

Shorten the outdoor section and shift to a covered option — a cafe in the centre, an indoor play area or a drive to a covered attraction nearby. Having that backup chosen before the rain starts makes the switch much smoother.

Where should families stay near Hoogeveen?

Bed and Breakfast De Heerlijkheid Ruinerwold suits families who want a rural base close to Hoogeveen and the Drenthe countryside. For a holiday park experience with on-site facilities, there are forest and nature-based options in the province; for a town-focused stay, look for accommodation within walking distance of the Hoofdstraat.

Nearby Attractions

• Attractie- & Vakantiepark Slagharen
• Bed and Breakfast De Heerlijkheid Ruinerwold
• Dwingelderveld National Park
• Bird Park Ruinen
• Spaarbankbos

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