Netherlands > Dalerveen – Coevorden – Hardenberg

The alarm was set an hour later since we had to walk just over ten kilometers less today compared to yesterday. Breakfast had already been quite extensive. After breakfast, we said goodbye to Renate and Henny and thanked them for their tremendous hospitality. In the sunshine, we walked via the entrance of Huttenheugte toward Coevorden and picked up the original Pieterpad again (the guesthouse was one road parallel to the route). The route passed through the center of Coevorden toward the station. Here, the original stage ended, but we would continue on to Hardenberg—a distance of about 26 kilometers. At the hotel near the station, we had coffee. Then we set off toward Gramsbergen. The wind was quite strong against us today, and the route ran mainly over open terrain. At the bridge near De Haandrik, we sat behind the dike, out of the wind, in the grass for our lunch. Gramsbergen was a charming village with old houses as well as new shops. Even on the second day of Easter, it was lively. We crossed the Vecht and walked under the highway, then turned left toward Hardenberg. The strong wind was occasionally annoying. The Engelandsche Bos was therefore a welcome change.

Netherlands - Hardenberg

Unfortunately, the only bench along the route was already occupied. We considered sitting in the grass, but based on experience from a few days earlier—where there was always another bench further along—we kept walking. Sure enough, a bench awaited us around the corner. Unfortunately, the bench was directly exposed to the wind, so our stop was short. We continued toward Hardenberg. The final stretch along the Vecht was directly into the strong wind. Around quarter past four, we reached the bridge over the Vecht in Hardenberg. Since we had plenty of time, we walked into Hardenberg and had a beer in the center. Our guesthouse was in the new residential area right along the route. It took a bit of searching to find the exact way to Loorlaan, but with some effort, we arrived at Mrs. Vos’s place. We were warmly welcomed here as well, with coffee. In the evening, we ate at the Boomstammen restaurant at the end of the street. We didn’t feel like walking another two kilometers to the center. Luckily, there was just enough space for us, as the restaurant was very busy due to the second day of Easter. Around ten o’clock, we were back home and went to our rooms.