hunebedden

Hunebedden are prehistoric megalithic tombs found mainly in the northeastern Netherlands, especially in the province of Drenthe, with additional examples in Groningen, Overijssel, and parts of northern Germany. They date to the Neolithic period, roughly between 3400 and 3100 BCE, and were built by communities of the Funnelbeaker culture. The monuments consist of several vertically placed stones (orthostats) that support one or more large horizontal slabs, forming a burial chamber. Many also feature a long forecourt or a narrow passage leading to the chamber, and the capstones can be extremely heavy, sometimes weighing many tons.

The stones used in hunebedden are typically locally sourced glacial erratics or large boulders. The purpose was burial and collective memory for a group or community, with the chamber serving as a tomb for multiple individuals and generations. Some sites show evidence of repeated use or reconstruction over time, and grave goods occasionally accompany the burials, dating to the late Neolithic.

Today, hunebedden are protected archaeological monuments and are an important part of regional heritage. The Netherlands hosts a dense cluster in Drenthe, including notable sites around Borger, Havelte, and Drouwen, many of which are accessible to visitors. The region features visitor centers such as the Hunebedcentrum in Borger that interpret and preserve the sites. Across the border in Germany, similar megalithic tombs are known as Hünengräber and relate to a broader northern European megalithic tradition.

Etymologically, the Dutch term hunebed means “bed of giants,” reflecting folklore about giants building the tombs. The monuments are among the oldest monumental structures in the region and continue to attract scholars and tourists for their architectural scale and archaeological value.