Drenthe Story Weekend: free in Orvelte, booking required in Exloo
Editors ·
From 16 to 18 October, three places in Drenthe offer different ways to hear stories. Admission ranges from a free village programme to a paid evening ride.
Drenthe Story Weekend runs from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October 2026. Marketing Drenthe initiated and brings together the programme, while local organisations provide the individual events. Storytellers appear in villages, museums and the countryside; hours and tickets vary by venue.
Orvelte’s Story Festival takes place on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October from 10 am to 5 pm. Its theme is “Being different together”. A red thread leads visitors through farmhouses and homes where storytellers, poets and other artists perform, with shows for children too. The daytime programme is free. Performances generally start at 11 am, noon, 2 pm and 3 pm, unless stated otherwise.
Orvelte also has a separate Saturday evening programme. The Storytelling Special begins at Verhalenhuis Brandaan at 8 pm with four storytellers. A ticket costs €15 and can be booked through the organiser’s website. The free daytime events and paid evening are separate choices.
In Exloo, listening becomes a journey. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Eko-Tours takes visitors in open electric off-road vehicles from 6 to 9 pm for stories about the Witte Wieven, giants of the Hondsrug and other local legends. The ride leaves from Valtherweg 1 and costs €42.50 per person, regardless of age. Advance booking and payment are required.
In Veenhuizen, the National Prison Museum’s Story Evening starts on Saturday 17 October at 6.15 pm; doors open at 6 pm and the programme ends at 8.15 pm. Storytellers around the former prison village invite visitors to guess which tales are true. It is intended for families and children aged eight and over. Children aged eight to twelve enter free; adults pay €7.50. Tickets are available in advance through the museum.
Marketing Drenthe does not list a single ticket for the weekend: choose an activity and check its own organiser for booking. Places for the Veenhuizen evening are limited according to the programme listing, and the ticket allows entry to the museum from 4 pm. The photographs show Orvelte and the Prison Museum entrance in earlier years, not the 2026 Story Weekend.