Oude Pekela

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title: "Oude Pekela" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["pekela", "populated-places-in-groningen-(province)", "former-municipalities-of-groningen-(province)", "1599-establishments-in-the-dutch-republic"] topic_path: "geography/netherlands" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oude_Pekela" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameOude Pekela
settlement_typeTown
image_skylineFile:Oude Pekela - W.H. Bosgrastraat 37 - directiewoning strokartonfabriek Ceres.jpg
image_captionDirector's house (2021)
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameNetherlands
subdivision_type1Province
subdivision_name1Groningen
subdivision_type2Municipality
subdivision_name2Pekela
population_footnotes
established_titleEstablished
established_date1599
population_total7,485
population_as_of2021
population_density_km2auto
population_demonymPekelaar
area_footnotes
area_total_km29.82
postal_code_typePostal code
postal_code9665
area_code_typeArea code
area_code0597
elevation_footnotes
elevation_m1
pushpin_mapNetherlands Groningen#Netherlands
pushpin_map_captionLocation of Oude Pekela in the province of Groningen
coordinates
timezone1CET
utc_offset1+1
timezone1_DSTCEST
utc_offset1_DST+2
::

| name = Oude Pekela | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = File:Oude Pekela - W.H. Bosgrastraat 37 - directiewoning strokartonfabriek Ceres.jpg | image_caption = Director's house (2021) | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Netherlands | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Groningen | subdivision_type2 = Municipality | subdivision_name2 = Pekela | population_footnotes = | established_title = Established | established_date = 1599 | population_total = 7,485 | population_as_of = 2021 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = Pekelaar | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 9.82 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 9665 | area_code_type = Area code | area_code = 0597 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 1 | pushpin_map = Netherlands Groningen#Netherlands | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Oude Pekela in the province of Groningen | coordinates = | timezone1 = CET | utc_offset1 = +1 | timezone1_DST = CEST | utc_offset1_DST = +2

Oude Pekela (Gronings: Olle Pekel; ) is a town in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Pekela, about 5 km (3 miles) southwest of Winschoten. It was established to exploit the peat in the area. During the 19th century, it was known for its maritime transport. During the 20th century, Oude Pekela became the centre of the cardboard and potato starch industry.

History

Peat colony

In the 1590s, the Friesche Compagnie (Frisian Company) was founded to exploit the peat in the area. In 1599, the land around the River Pekel A was bought and subdivided in 101 lots. Oude Pekela was established to house the workers. The town is named after the Pekel A, and is a linear settlement along the river which has been canalised and renamed . In 1635, it became part of the , and was controlled by the city of Groningen as a colony. In 1704, the settlement was split into Oude Pekela (Old) and Nieuwe Pekela (New), because a second church was built.

In 1801, all towns and villages had to be governed by a municipality, and the peat colony came to an end. It was originally a municipality with neighbouring Nieuwe Pekela. In 1808, Oude Pekela was home to 3,371 people. In 1810, after Napoleon annexed the Batavian Republic, Oude Pekela became a separate commune and a mayor was appointed the next year. Oude Pekela remained a separate municipality until 1990, when it merged with Nieuwe Pekela.

Maritime transport

The River Pekel A connected Oude Pekela with the Dollart and the Wadden Sea. In 1717, the first lock was constructed in the town. Around 1800, the peat became exhausted, and the skippers started to make longer journeys. First to Holland, and later to England, the Baltic and the Mediterranean. Boat builders set up shop in the village, and the maritime industry flourished. In 1863, 60 wharfs and 160 ships were registered in Oude Pekela. The increasing popularity of the steamship resulted in a gradual decline. By 1892, there were only seven wharfs left. The former residential home of Captain Boon in Nieuwe Pekela has been turned into the Museum Kapiteinshuis Pekela and provides an overview of the maritime history of the region.

Industry

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Stoomachine_free.jpg" caption="Steam engine of a cardboard factory"] ::

Oude Pekela developed into the centre of the cardboard and potato starch industry, The canal became known for its extreme pollution and stench. Water treatment plants were built, and the canal gradually became cleaner.

The working conditions in the factories were also unsatisfactory. In 1969, strikes were organised by Fré Meis of the Communist Party (CPN). The CPN scored an electoral victory in the in Groningen with 14% of the votes, and Meis was promoted to the Executive Committee of the CPN.

Jewish community

In 1685, the first Jews settled in Oude Pekela, and were joined by immigrants from East Frisia and Poland in the late 18th century. Around 1700, the first Jewish cemetery was established, and the first synagogue was built in 1791. In 1884, a larger synagogue was constructed. In 1942, there were 150 Jews in Oude Pekela. Only 12 survived World War II. The synagogue was bought by the municipality in 1976, and was used by the boy scouts, but was demolished in 1979.

Recent history

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Oude_Pekela_-_Freebrug.jpg" caption="Freebrug (2021)"] ::

In the late 20th century, most of the factories in Oude Pekela closed down. , a hemp factory, is still located in the town. In June 1987, Oude Pekela was in the news, because of allegations of sexual abuse of numerous children by a clown. The case received massive media attention, and caused large demonstrations. A police spokesperson used the words "mass hysteria" which further inflamed the situation. After a massive investigation, the case was closed on 17 October 1988 due to lack of evidence.

Oude Pekela is still one of the poorest places with high unemployment. In 2009 and 2010, Elsevier Weekblad considered it the worst place of the Netherlands, however the inhabitants thoroughly disagreed. The town serves as a regional shopping centre. In 2017, the renovation of the centre started. The municipality managed to entice shops to return to the centre, and the renovation was completed in December 2021. In 2021, it had the most affordable real estate of the country.

Transport

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Rotonde_van_Oude_Pekela_-_panoramio.jpg" caption="Roundabout on the N367"] ::

Between 1885 and 1939, Oude Pekela was served by the steam tram from Winschoten to Stadskanaal. Oude Pekela can be reached by car via the N367 which connects to the A7 motorway.

Sport

Oude Pekela hosted the finish of stage 4b at the 2012 Energiewacht Tour, and the start of stage 2 at the 2013 Energiewacht Tour.

Notable people

Gallery

File:Oude Pekela Kokshoorn 01.JPG|Sculpture "Turfkruiwagen" (2009) by Frans Kokshoorn File:Oude Pekela Watertoren 2006.JPG|Old water tower in Oude Pekala File:Joodse begraafplaats Oude Pekela 01.JPG|Jewish cemetery in Oude Pekela File:Rechterzijgevel - Oude Pekela - 20178926 - RCE.jpg|Oude Pekela (1976)

References

Bibliography

References

  1. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021".
  2. "Postcodetool for 9665BD". Het Waterschapshuis.
  3. (24 June 1949). "Oude Pekela binnenkort 350 jaar".
  4. "Oude Pekela - (geografische naam)".
  5. "Pekela".
  6. "Oude Veenkoloniën".
  7. "Nieuwe Pekela - (geografische naam)".
  8. {{Repertorium Nederlandse Gemeenten
  9. "Pekela aan zee".
  10. "De collectie van Kapiteinshuis Pekel".
  11. "Brandend water in de kanalen van Pekela".
  12. "Provinciale Staten 18 maart 1970".
  13. Gerrit Voerman. (2013). "Meis, Frederik (1921-1992)".
  14. "Geschiedenis".
  15. (24 January 1976). "Oude Pekela geeft zeventig mille voor vroege synagoge".
  16. "Joodse gemeenschap in Pekela".
  17. (2009). "De Dollard, een dynamisch systeem onder invloed van de mens".
  18. "HempFlax Invests €3m In Headquarters Creating The World's Most Advanced Hemp Processing Facility".
  19. Jenny Velthuys. (10 August 2011). "De mysterieuze clownsaffaire".
  20. "Als Pekela de opbrengst van zijn delfstoffen in eigen zak had mogen steken".
  21. (25 June 2010). "Pekela slechtste gemeente om te wonen".
  22. (3 November 2009). "Pekela! Rutger bezoekt de Slechtste Plek van Nederland".
  23. "Oude Pekela Centraal".
  24. (27 December 2021). "Aanpak centrum Oude Pekela definitief afgerond".
  25. (22 February 2022). "Koopwoningen in Pekela duurder, maar goedkoopst van heel Nederland".
  26. (1 January 2010). "Historische tramrails uit Oude Pekela naar museum van Star".
  27. "Bedrijventerrein West".
  28. (7 April 2012). "Energiewacht Tour (NED) 07 Apr 2012 - Stage 4b (TTT): Veendam - Oude Pekela". UCI.
  29. (4 April 2013). "Opnieuw winst Wild in Energiewacht Tour". [[Algemeen Dagblad]].
  30. "Gerard Wiekens".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

pekelapopulated-places-in-groningen-(province)former-municipalities-of-groningen-(province)1599-establishments-in-the-dutch-republic