Beautiful Pekela

Discover now how green Pekela is with the Beautiful Pekela route. This route takes you past various nature reserves, forests and parks. Naturally, these are excellent moments to get off and take a walk.

Recreation area Tusschenwegen
A nature reserve that is still undiscovered by many and still young is Waterpark Tusschenwegen. This area is, as the name suggests, located between two roads, including the road from Oude Pekela to Winschoten. During the construction, a lot of open water and pond-marsh zones were chosen, because in times of flooding the area also functions as a water storage facility. A cycling route passes by, but you can also explore the area on foot. Although in summer you should remember to wear a hat to protect against the heat and apply sunscreen, because the area is open and the wind can have a deceptively cooling effect.
During your walk or bike ride you may encounter four Konik horses, which roam freely in the area. However, they are naturally shy and will leave people alone if they are not fed.
There is a water artwork in the shape of eyes on the northern side of the area. These are two adjacent ponds, which flow into each other due to height differences. (Flessings site, 9665 BZ Oude Pekela)

Emergobos (Old Peat Colonies)
For those who enjoy long walks in the forest, the Emergobos near Pekela is a good option. Here you can walk endlessly and it is also wonderfully sheltered, which is extra welcome in the summer. You can also enjoy excellent fishing here at the central fishing lake. The Emergobos was opened in 1973 as part of the recreational area located there.
Around the lake you will see older trees, where many special breeding birds can be found, such as the gray tit and the hawfinch. (Emergoweg, 9678 TJ Westerlee)

Hugo de Groot Park
If you are already in Pekela, it is nice to pay a visit to the Hugo de Groot Park. In this beautifully landscaped park there are several places where you can sit and enjoy, and there is also a petting zoo with a tea house. (Hugo de Grootstraat 85, 9665 LM Oude Pekela)

Heeresmeer/Heeresveld
Be surprised by the Heeresmeer in Nieuwe Pekela. This original sand extraction location has grown into a recreational lake for swimmers and fishermen. In the adjacent Heeresveld recreation area you can take a wonderful walk, which has a rustic feel and gives the feeling that you are becoming a'Pekelder Roegbainer\\\' yourself with the overgrown paths where nature seems to take its course. Good footwear is highly recommended.
In addition to the various walking paths, there are also beaches with playing fields and a rabbit castle can be found in the adjacent sports park. (Verlengde Sportlaan 43, 9663 EW Nieuwe Pekela)

Hoetmansmeer
The name suggests that you are going to visit a lake. But nothing is less true. Here is a forest area of Staatsbosbeheer that was created as part of the redevelopment of the Peat Colonies. Originally, this site was home to a peat lake or mooring stable located in the Bourtanger Marsh. Prehistoric finds were made at the site of the Hoetmansmeer during the redevelopment and an information board at this location tells about this.
Here you will find migratory birds, such as redwings and fieldfares, and deer are also regularly seen.
The Hoetmansmeer is a nice place to include in your cycle tour along, for example, the AG Wildervanck Canal. There is a bicycle bridge that connects both sides of this canal.
Although you can't really walk around this small forest area, there is a nice place to have a picnic in the shade. And for the hikers among us it also offers a nice opportunity, which can be called idyllic with a view of the arable fields. (Wildervanksterdallen 75, 9648 TC Wildervank)

Pekelderbos
Also surprising is this 50 hectare recreational forest south of the village of Pekela. Depending on where you start your walk, you first walk through a park-like area with a view of a residential area and then it flows into the forest.
This forest was planted in two phases in the 1980s. There are many coniferous trees. During the walk along the wide paths you may encounter many butterflies and insects. And you may also encounter breeding birds that like to stay in the forests and shrubs. Such as the blackcap, blackbird, willow warbler and chiffchaff. Wood pigeons and turtle doves also like to visit the forest, but they mainly seek out dense spruce and pine plots.
The nature reserve has been opened and cycling and walking paths have been constructed in the forest. There is also a sandy beach with swimming and windsurfing opportunities on the northern edge of the forest. (Ericalaan 48, 9665 RH Oude Pekela)