D43

Dolmen | Hunebed D43, Schimmeres, Emmen | Ranko Veuger | Flickr ## D43 (Emmen–Schimmeres): the Netherlands’ only long-barrow hunebed — what to expect on site At 52.7932341, 6.8871087 (Emmen–Schimmeres, Drenthe), Hunebed D43 stands out from every other Dutch hunebed for one simple reason: it’s a long barrow (“long grave”) with two passage graves inside, and it’s unique in the Netherlands. Hunebed Nieuwscafé If you’ve visited the more typical Drenthe passage graves—compact stone chambers in low mounds—D43 reads differently. The site’s scale is stretched out, fenced by a long kerbstone/ringstone setting, and it was built as a composite monument: two tomb chambers set within a long enclosure. Hunebed Nieuwscafé --- ## What D43 is, in plain terms ### A long barrow with two passage graves - Type: long barrow with two passage graves Kuipers - Size: about 40.3 m long and 6.8 m wide Kuipers - Setting: a long, kerbed enclosure (“stone ring/kerbstones”) around the mound area Hunebed Nieuwscafé A useful mental image: picture a long, slightly bounded strip (the long bed) with two stone-built burial chambers embedded along it. This long-bed design is common in parts of northern Europe, but in the Netherlands it’s essentially a one-off—D43. ### The ringstones/kerbstones are part of the “wow” One source describes D43 as having an almost complete set of 52 restored ringstones around the two tomb chambers under a covering mound. Hunebed Nieuwscafé Another description discusses counts around 53 stones/orthostats forming the exterior setting. University These two figures are close and likely reflect different counting conventions (e.g., restored vs. total observed stones at a given time). The safe takeaway: the perimeter stone setting is unusually extensive and largely restored, and it’s a defining feature of the site. Hunebed Nieuwscafé --- ## How it differs from most Dutch hunebeds Most Dutch megalithic tombs are categorized as passage graves, generally oriented east–west, and built as single chambers under mounds. D43 is repeatedly described as an exception: - It’s north–south rather than the “usual” east–west pattern. Hunebed Nieuwscafé - It’s not “just one chamber,” but two within a long enclosure. Hunebed Nieuwscafé - It’s treated as the only long-bed grave of its type in the Netherlands. If you’re building a hunebed route around Emmen, D43 is the one that gives you “architectural variety” rather than just another chamber-and-mound stop. --- ## Visiting D43: access, approach, and what you’ll actually see ### Where it is - Town/area: Emmen (Schimmeres) Kuipers - Coordinates: your listing matches published coordinate ranges for D43 (52.7932…, 6.8870…). Kuipers ### Getting to the monument (on foot) One detailed description says D43 lies west of the road to Odoorn, and that you reach it on foot via a ~400 m sandy path, with a small parking area by the road. Hunebed Nieuwscafé Accessibility note: a “sandy path” strongly suggests that wheelchair or stroller access may be difficult, especially after rain. That’s not a moral judgment—just a practical heads-up so visitors with mobility needs can plan accordingly (or choose a more accessible hunebed stop). Hunebed Nieuwscafé ### What to look for on arrival Expect a long, tree-framed earthen form with a substantial stone perimeter and two internal chamber zones. The monument is described as offering “a good impression of the original” even though the chambers themselves are not pristine. Kuipers --- ## What we know about its age and cultural context Across the Netherlands, these megalithic tombs were built in the Neolithic by the Funnelbeaker culture (TRB / TBK), broadly dated in Dutch contexts to the mid–late 4th millennium BCE (commonly cited around 3470–3250 BCE for construction, with use continuing later). A site-specific write-up places D43 around ~3000 BCE. University Given the unavoidable uncertainty in single-date claims for monuments used and re-used over long periods, the most conservative phrasing is: D43 is a Neolithic Funnelbeaker-culture monument, around five millennia old, with scholarly sources placing it roughly in the third–fourth millennium BCE range. --- ## A quick “on-site reading” of the two chambers One description gives specific structural notes: - Northern grave: “three lintels on six uprights and two keystones” (plus portal uprights). Hunebed Nieuwscafé - Southern grave: originally had more lintels, but fewer survive today (and at least one upright missing). Hunebed Nieuwscafé You don’t need to be an archaeologist to appreciate what this means visually: the two chambers aren’t identical, and one is more complete than the other. Treat them as two “chapters” inside the same long monument—walk the length, then circle back and compare the stonework and proportions. Hunebed Nieuwscafé --- ## A historically documented moment: Van Giffen’s observations A 2017 English-language summary references Professor A.E. van Giffen’s visit/notes (including a published atlas) describing D43’s distinct parts and the perimeter stone setting, and states the monument has been state-owned since 1870. Hunebed Nieuwscafé That state-ownership claim is historically specific; if you plan to quote it prominently, treat it as “reported in secondary summaries” unless you also consult the primary reference (Van Giffen’s atlas). Hunebed Nieuwscafé --- ## Two internal links you can add (contextual, not forced) I can’t verify your RealJourneyTravels.com URL structure from here, but these are clean, cluster-friendly internal links that match what readers commonly do next: - Link to a nearby hunebed stop: e.g., your D41/D42 Emmen-area posts (“Hunebed D41” and “Hunebed D42”). - Link to a Drenthe hunebed overview / route builder page (a hub that lists your Drenthe hunebed guides and a map embed). If you already published Emmen hunebed entries like D41/D42, D43 is a perfect “contrast piece” because it’s the country’s only long-barrow example. --- ## Outdated-data flags (what to double-check before publishing) These specifics can change and should be verified locally or with the most current municipal/heritage info: - Parking situation (“small parking area by the road”) and path conditions (sand, temporary closures, signage). Hunebed Nieuwscafé - Any claims about restoration counts (52 vs. 53 perimeter stones) depending on counting methods and ongoing conservation. Hunebed Nieuwscafé If you want, paste your draft slug structure (or your existing D41/D42 URLs), and I’ll wire the internal link anchors so they read naturally and don’t look templated.