Drenthe
Emmen
A collection begins with keeping things. At Museum Collectie Brands in Nieuw-Dordrecht, Jans Brands’s collecting developed into a museum of historic objects, art and memorabilia. His own farmhouse was the starting point. The permanent presentation De wereld van Jans places personal collecting alongside the history of the region. An object need not be valuable to tell something about the past.
In central Emmen, an entire site has acquired a new purpose. Rensenpark occupies the former Noorder Dierenpark zoo. Water, trees and parts of the earlier layout now provide surroundings for art, culture and other initiatives. The photographed pond shows this green space. Access to the park is separate from the programmes and opening hours of the organisations within it.
Another form of preservation lies in the Emmerdennen woodland. The D45 dolmen stands on higher ground there. Over time, the monument has been investigated and restored. Its large stones are both an ancient structure and the subject of later care. A museum, a reused park and a dolmen each offer a different starting point for Emmen.
Collecting in Nieuw-Dordrecht
Museum Collectie Brands
Museum Collectie Brands at Herenstreek 11 in Nieuw-Dordrecht grew from Jans Brands’s collection. Historic objects, art and memorabilia bring personal interests and regional history together. The permanent presentation De wereld van Jans is on display throughout the year. A smartphone audio guide provides further explanation.
Herenstreek 11, 7885 AT Nieuw-Dordrecht
A day in Emmen
An example for an ordinary Saturday, excluding exceptional closures. Rensenpark opens daily at 08:00 and closes at 17:00 from 1 November to 31 March. Museum Collectie Brands opens on Saturdays from 13:00 to 17:00. The ninety-minute gap allows for lunch and travel from Emmen to Nieuw-Dordrecht. The second stop is outside the centre and is a separate journey rather than a continuation of a town walk.
10:00–11:30 · Rensenpark, Emmen
The morning begins at Rensenpark, Hoofdstraat 18. The outdoor space allows a circuit beside the water and through green parts of the former zoo. Exhibitions or activities inside park buildings have their own visitor arrangements.
13:00–14:30 · Museum Collectie Brands, Nieuw-Dordrecht
At 13:00, Museum Collectie Brands at Herenstreek 11 in Nieuw-Dordrecht follows. The permanent presentation is the starting point for the visit. The collection includes objects that once had a role in everyday life and were subsequently kept.
More about the ATLAS Theater
The ATLAS Theater stands at Raadhuisplein 100. The August 2016 photograph shows the building’s exterior and the passage towards WILDLANDS. Its main auditorium, the Grote Zaal, is currently closed following water damage; other available spaces remain in use. The theatre expects the Grote Zaal to reopen on 25 November 2026, subject to completion of repairs and technical checks.
Key figures and transport
Population
109,881
Area
346.26 km²
Water
9.97 km²
Localities
16
Reference date · 1 January 2026
Stations
Search Holland Magazine
Stones in the Emmerdennen
D45 dolmen
The D45 dolmen stands on higher ground in the Emmerdennen, within the municipality of Emmen. The monument suffered damage in the nineteenth century and was subsequently investigated. Archaeological research and restoration under Van Giffen followed in 1957. The October 2020 photograph shows the large capstones and the stones supporting them.