💙🏞️ Queer Tropical Blue Lake Hike - Hoogersmilde, Drenthe (18km) 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Come along on this summery & tropical walk, queer hikers! 🏝️✨

This time we’re diving into the Tropical Blue Lake Hike: a fabulous circular adventure around Hoogersmilde in the beautiful rural province of Drenthe. Expect enchanting old forests, mysterious peats & fens, heather fields, traditional farmlands and the walk's highlight serving main-character energy: the tropical-blue waters of the Blauwe Meer. Think of it as a nature walk with a full queer palette: from mossy greens to dazzling sapphire and turquoise blues that remind us of a Caribbean beach. 💙

We’ll take our time to soak up the scenery and celebrate queer joy together along the way, catching up on each other's summer plans. And of course, we’ll pause at the Blauwe Meer for anyone who feels like making a splash and taking a refreshing dip. Because sometimes the best accessory is a swimsuit and a little lake-side glamour. 🌈
Bring your snacks, water, and swimwear if you’d like to channel your inner tropical mermaid, merman, or magnificent enby of the deep. 🧜🏽

Practical info
📏 Distance: 18 km (circular hike)
📍 Start: Hoogersmilde, bus stop Schultestraat
🏁 End: Back in Hoogersmilde
🥾 Level: moderate to hard – relaxed pace with plenty of time for breaks and a swim, but quite a long distance
🤝 Meeting point: Utrecht Centraal Station at 09:00

🚆 Travel schedule: Train from Utrecht Centraal to Zwolle (direction Leeuwarden) at 09:21, platform 9 ➡️ arrival in Zwolle at 10:11, platform 7 ➡️Train to Assen (direction Groningen) at 10:16, platform 6 ➡️ Arrival in Assen at 10:55, platform 3 ➡️Bus 20 to Hoogersmilde (direction Diever) at 11:03, platform B ➡️ Arrival in Hoogersmilde (bus stop Schultestraat) at 11:29
➡️ we start walking around 11:45, after a round of introductions

❗You’re welcome to join from another direction. If you come by car you can park at the parking of Belevingspad Hoogersmilde.

Pack your:
🍱 snacks
🚰 water bottle
🧥 rain coat/umbrella
🩳 swimming wear & towel
☀️ sun screen!
🪙 3.50 euros for entrance fee Blauwe Meer
🏳️‍🌈 anything else you might need

❌ If you signed up and cannot make it in the end, please cancel your RSVP attendance so we know how many people will show up and someone else can take your place instead.

💗 A voluntary donation helps us to keep the Meetup group up and running :) you can either pay via a Tikkie or in cash after we finish the hike.

Hiking Queers Netherlands