Nederland - Orvelte

The village of Orvelte probably originated between the 11th and 13th century. In a charter from 1362 the village is referred to as “Oervelde”. This oldest notation indicates the origin of the place name: the village Over het veld (Across the field).

The village with its cobbled streets is made up of a collection of thatched Saxon farmhouses and other heritage buildings. The oldest farm in Central Drenthe - built between 1560 and 1650 - is also located in Orvelte after a relocation. The car-free village still exudes the atmosphere of a 19th century village in Drenthe. In 1967 Orvelte received the status of protected village-scape.

Nowadays Orvelte presents itself as a monument village. In addition to the normal daily activity and residential function, many of the farms are equipped to display old crafts and are used by shops, which mainly sell nostalgic and/or vintage items. There are also several small museums; one shows the period rooms of the family who lived there in the 19th century.