Bourtange and the peat colonies

This beautiful route leads you through the peat colonies of Oude and Nieuwe Pekela. You also cycle through historic Winschoten and the former Bourtange fortress.

Bourtange
The fortified village still looks the same as it did in 1742. William of Orange had the fortress built in the sixteenth century to liberate Groningen from Spanish hands. Bourtange was then on the supply route that ran through the middle of the marshes. The fortress has a pentagonal shape. Outside the fortress you can still see part of the old marshland.

Pekela peat colony
Old and New Pekela are named after the small river Pekel A, which takes its name from the salinized water. The water stream flowed into the sea, but seawater also flowed into the river. The region around Pekel A has been inhabited for thousands of years. Old and New Pekela are typical peat colonies. It used to be one elongated village along the water - the peat was mainly transported by water.