The Hunze is a river running through the border area of the provinces of Drenthe and Groningen, east of the Hondsrug ridge, in the northeastern Netherlands. Its name translates roughly as "marsh or mud stream," reflecting the character of the low-lying valley it drains. Historically, the river once flowed all the way to the Wadden Sea, first at Pieterburen and later at Zoutkamp via the Lauwerszee, before being dammed around 1400 at Roodehaan and redirected through the Schuitendiep toward Groningen. Over the 20th century, much of the river was canalized by cutting off meanders, but since the early 21st century significant restoration work has been undertaken to return sections of the Hunze to a more natural, meandering course through rough meadows and nature reserves.

The Elzemaat area offers a good example of this restoration: what was once a straight canal through potato fields has been transformed into a winding stream. A former pumping station there, built in the mid-20th century to supply water to a nearby potato flour factory, now serves as a lookout post managed by the Drentse Landschap Foundation.

Canoeing and kayaking are popular ways to explore the Hunze, and the river is well suited to this. Because the restored banks are largely inaccessible on foot, paddling is considered the best way to experience the valley. Canoe rental is available at Breeland Recreatie. In the Netherlands, paddling on waterways is generally free unless otherwise indicated, so no special permit is required for the Hunze under normal circumstances.

The 48-kilometer Hunzeroute cycling path also crosses the area, which may be relevant for paddlers combining a water trip with land-based exploration or logistics. The surrounding landscape, shaped by the Hondsrug UNESCO Global Geopark, includes nature reserves and wetland habitats that make the river corridor of interest for wildlife observation. The Waterpark De Bloemert serves as one of the expedition gateways for the Hondsrug Geopark and may provide additional visitor facilities in the area.