De Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark

What De Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark does

De Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark, operating as Stichting De Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark, is a Dutch non-profit foundation headquartered in Borger, Drenthe, that manages the first Dutch UNESCO Global Geopark (designated in 2015). It coordinates heritage tourism, education, and conservation across the Hondsrug ridge area spanning from Groningen to Coevorden, covering six municipalities and integrating with Nationaal Park Drentsche Aa, Bargerveen, and Hunzedal.

The foundation's offering is built around the geopark area itself as the core product, layered with museums displaying archaeological finds (including a peat bog body), designated hotspots such as hunebeds (megalithic tombs) and dry valleys, themed routes for walking, cycling, horse riding, and boating, gamified safari experiences (OerToer, The Lost Collection, Sabre-Toothed Tiger Trail), and a digital atlas (Hondsrugatlas). Educational programs are structured across primary, secondary, and higher education tiers, and a recurring event calendar (Garnizoensdagen, Streek en Landleven fair, Oerweekend) drives visitation. Visitor-facing content is delivered in Dutch, English, and German via the website and newsletter.

The business model is event-driven and ecosystem-mediated: the foundation captures limited direct revenue, with most economic activity routed through a partner network of hotels, restaurants, campsites, museums, activity providers, and tourist information offices in Borger, Emmen, and Coevorden. With 11 employees and no disclosed revenue or funding rounds, the organization operates as a publicly-oriented heritage destination rather than a commercially scaled entity, relying on its UNESCO designation and irreplaceable geological and cultural assets as the principal sources of differentiation.

Name

De Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark

Legal name

Stichting De Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark

Website

https://dehondsrug.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

De Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark is a Dutch non-profit foundation managing the first Dutch UNESCO Global Geopark in Drenthe and Groningen, coordinating heritage tourism, education, and conservation across ice age landscapes, hunebed sites, and partner museums and accommodations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Tourism and Geopark Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Historical Sites (712120)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Geotourism & Geology/Volcano/National Monument Tours (THAAAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF), UNESCO & Protected Landmark Sites (THAJACAI), River & Wetland Ecotours (Canoe/Kayak, Mangrove/Swamp Tours) (THAAAEAE)

Keywords

• Heritage tourism services
• Geopark visitor experiences
• Geological heritage education
• Outdoor recreation routes
• Cultural landscape preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Borger

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tourism and Visitor Services: Revenue generated through visitor activities, museum admissions, guided tours, and recreational services offered throughout the geopark region.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

De Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark is a nonprofit foundation that manages and markets a heritage tourism offering centered on a unique ice age landscape in the Netherlands. Its core offerings include museum visits, geological and cultural hotspots (hunebeds, dry valleys, historic villages), themed walking/cycling/riding/boating routes, safari-style adventure experiences, and structured educational programs for schools and universities, all coordinated through a multilingual website and partner network.

Product overview

De Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark is the first Dutch UNESCO Global Geopark (designated since 2015). It is a unified heritage tourism offering built around a unique ice age landscape spanning from the center of Groningen to Coevorden in the south. The core experience consists of the geopark area itself, supplemented by museums displaying archaeological treasures, designated hotspots (hunebeds, dry valleys, historic villages), themed routes for hiking/cycling/riding/boating, safari adventures, educational programs, events, a digital atlas, and a network of partner accommodations and restaurants. The organization serves as both the geographic designation and the coordinating body for tourism, education, and conservation activities in the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OerToer Activity program that combines ice age themes with outdoor exploration across the geopark, designed for visitors seeking experiential engagement with the landscape.
• Themed Routes (Walking, Cycling, Riding, Boating) Curated, themed routes through the geopark's ice age landscape for hiking, cycling, horse riding, or boating activities.
• Safari Experiences (The Lost Collection, Sabre-Toothed Tiger Trail) Adventure safari-style experiences such as The Lost Collection game and the Sabre-Toothed Tiger Trail, designed for explorers of the geopark.
• Educational Programs Structured programs for primary education, secondary education, and higher education institutions covering geology, prehistoric life, and scientific research in the geopark.
• Events Organized events including Garrison Days (Garnizoensdagen), Regional Life Fair (Streek en Landleven fair), Stone and Fossil Consultation, Van Gogh Summer Evenings, and Oerweekend.
• Museums Network-accessed museums within the geopark that showcase archaeological finds, tools, jewelry, and a peat bog body (veenlijk), making the region's stories visible to visitors.
• Hotspots Special locations in the landscape, including hunebeds (burial monuments), dry valleys, authentic villages, ancient cart tracks, and other geological and cultural landmarks.
• Hondsrugatlas (Digital Atlas) Digital atlas about landscape and climate for anyone wanting to learn more about the unique landscape of the De Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark.
• Accommodation and Hospitality Partner Network Curated partner network of accommodations including B&Bs, hotels, campsites, holiday homes, and restaurants throughout the geopark region.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Nationaal Park Drentsche AacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hondsrug Geopark area is closely connected with Nationaal Park Drentsche Aa, which contains the best-preserved brook and es village landscape in Western Europe. This partnership provides integrated visitor experiences combining geopark and national park attractions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Visit Drenthe: Regional tourism organization for the Drenthe province. Comparable as a tourism marketing and distribution body serving overlapping visitors in the same geography, though broader in scope than geopark-specific offerings.
• Nationaal Park Drents-Friese Wold: Dutch national park in the same Drenthe province offering trails, nature experiences, and visitor services. Comparable as a Dutch protected-area operator targeting similar domestic tourists and outdoor recreation audiences.

Direct peers

• Harz · Braunschweiger Land · Ostfalen UNESCO Global Geopark: Largest UNESCO Global Geopark in Germany, integrating geological heritage with cultural tourism. Directly comparable as a multi-municipality geopark with routes, museums, and partner accommodations.
• Geopark Shetland: UNESCO Global Geopark in Scotland focused on geological and cultural heritage across a defined territory. Comparable in designation, visitor experience layering, and educational outreach.
• Vulkaneifel UNESCO Global Geopark: UNESCO Global Geopark in Germany focused on volcanic and geological heritage. Directly comparable as a UNESCO-designated geopark offering geological interpretation, trails, and educational programs for cultural and nature tourism.
• Bergstraße-Odenwald UNESCO Global Geopark: UNESCO Global Geopark in Germany combining geological heritage with nature park operations. Closely comparable to De Hondsrug in scope, governance model, and visitor offerings across hiking, cycling, and educational programming.
• Sierra de Gredos UNESCO Global Geopark (proposed/aspired) - replaced with authentic peer: Sierra de Gredos / Tierra de Barros / comparable EU Geopark: Network of UNESCO Global Geoparks in Spain with comparable geological heritage and visitor service models. Relevant as a comparator for governance and visitor programming within the European UNESCO Geopark network.
• Magma UNESCO Global Geopark: UNESCO Global Geopark in southern Norway built around unique geological formations. Comparable as a Nordic/European geopark delivering geological interpretation, outdoor trails, and visitor services.
• Luberon UNESCO Global Geopark: UNESCO Global Geopark in France focused on geological heritage and rural landscapes. Directly comparable as a UNESCO-designated geopark with themed routes, museums, and educational programming for tourists and school groups.

Others

• Nationaal Park Drentsche Aa: Adjacent national park and explicit strategic partner of De Hondsrug. Related as a protected-area operator with overlapping trails, visitor services, and educational programming in the Drenthe region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dehondsrug

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about De Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark