Veenpark

Om museet

The Veenpark in Barger-Compascuum was created in the 1960s to keep alive the history of peat colonisation in south-eastern Drenthe. Across about 160 hectares, it shows two reconstructed museum villages: ’t Aole Compas, a village of sod huts in the woods depicting the peat-cutting era around 1870, and Bargermond, a settlement for the years 1920 to 1966 with a church, café, school, mill, bakery and smithy. There was also a peat excavation, the last of its kind to survive, as well as narrow-gauge railways and a peat barge on which visitors travelled through the grounds.

The railways were operated, among others, by the steam enthusiasts' association EDS. From 2001 to 2024 the park also housed the Harmonium Museum Nederland, whose collection then went to the Geelvinck Museum.

In August 2025 the Veenpark had to file for insolvency; visitor numbers had no longer been sufficient to keep it running. In March 2026 it was announced that De Klokslag Activiteiten Beheer BV from Assen would take it over. The new owner wants to preserve the site as a day attraction and a place for peat history and to renew the park; the municipality of Emmen supports the plan as long as the cultural function is preserved. According to the website, reopening is planned for mid-2027.

Højdepunkter

• Largest open-air museum in the Netherlands, covering about 160 hectares
• Two museum villages: ’t Aole Compas (around 1870) and Bargermond (1920–1966)
• Ride on the Veenzug train to the last surviving peat excavation
• “Queeste van het Veen” puzzle trail for children through the village of Bargermond

Permanente udstillinger

• ’t Aole Compas – Reconstructed village of sod huts in the woods, showing the meagre life of the first peat workers around 1870.
• Bargermond – Museum village for the period from 1920 to 1966 with a church, café, school, mill, bakery, smithy and grocer's shop.
• Turfafgraving – The last surviving peat excavation; reached by train, with a peat-cutting demonstration and a hands-on station for stacking peat.

Grundlagt

1966

Ejer

De Klokslag Activiteiten Beheer BV

Entrépriser & rabatter

Museet har ikke offentliggjort oplysninger om dette.

Tilgængelighed

• Delvis kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator: ingen oplysninger
• Handicaptoilet: ingen oplysninger
• Handicapparkering: ingen oplysninger
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

Most of the park is easily accessible by wheelchair or rollator, including the main building, houses, train and boat. The village of ’t Aole Compas lies in the woods on sandy paths and is harder to reach in bad weather. A wheelchair or rollator can be borrowed for a day (reserve in advance by email). Dogs on a lead are allowed.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Familieomvisninger & workshops
• Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn
• Interaktive stationer
• Legeplads / legehjørne

The “Queeste van het Veen” puzzle trail leads children through the village of Bargermond, and at the peat excavation they can stack peat themselves. Small playground at the entrance.

Transport & parkering

By car via the A37 (exit 7, N379 Barger-Compascuum) or the N34 (Hunebed Highway, exit Emmen-West, then Rondweg Emmen towards Klazienaveen). Cycle junction 65.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museumsbutik

Park restaurant in the main building (self-service: coffee, tea, pastries, lunch), village café Veenlust in Bargermond (not open every day), grocer's shop with an old-fashioned sweets selection, bakery at the mill and a museum shop. A small playground and terrace are freely accessible before the ticket desk. Hand carts for hire (€7.50 per day, €5 deposit).

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Private fester
• Firmaarrangementer
• Bryllupper / vielser

Family days, weddings and company outings with catering (from coffee and cake to barbecue buffet) on request.

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