Etappe 6

We did this stage fully by public transport, starting from Amsterdam and breaking the journey with a night along the way. It worked well, but it does mean you have to plan a bit more carefully at the end - and you are at the mercy of the train schedule. For us, that meant one cancelled train and quite a lot of waiting.. 

To start the walk ealty, we arrived the evening before at Herberg de Loohoeve, one of those places that seems to cater especially to the Pieterpad, so it feels like part of the walk rather than just a stop along it. A good dinner, an even better breakfast - everything you need to start the morning right - and, importantly, a packed lunch. You’ll want that: there are long stretches on this stage with little to nothing in between.

This turned into a 23 km day for us. Leaving the Drentsche Aa behind, the landscape slowly shifts. We enjoyed some forested sections, but also began to see the first signs of the typical Dutch flat landscape.

For us, the day finished in Noord-Sleen (~ 1km off track), where we stayed the night. Don’t expect much in terms of food options. There’s essentially one spot, Wielens, and the kitchen closes early. If that’s your destination, timing matters. There is a bus if you really need it to get to Sleen for food shopping, but after a full day walking, chances are you won’t feel like going anywhere.

A simple stage, but a nice etappe. However, compared to Nordic hikes, it became more apparent that there are not many facilities along the Pieterpad, trash cans are rare, and places to sit for lunch are limited (and highly sought after by everyone). It would be good to see some improvement here, especially given how popular the path is. 

Lessons learned:

🚌 Transport tip: Extra time for potential train schedule interruptions. 

☕ Food tip: No cafés on the trail itself, so bring snacks!

🌲 Mood: Still in the forest!