Oude Pekela

Coordinates: 53°6′9″N 7°0′24″E / 53.10250°N 7.00667°E / 53.10250; 7.00667
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Oude Pekela
Town
Director's house (2021)
Director's house (2021)
Oude Pekela is located in Groningen (province)
Oude Pekela
Oude Pekela
Location of Oude Pekela in the province of Groningen
Oude Pekela is located in Netherlands
Oude Pekela
Oude Pekela
Oude Pekela (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 53°6′9″N 7°0′24″E / 53.10250°N 7.00667°E / 53.10250; 7.00667
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceGroningen
MunicipalityPekela
Established1599
Area
[1]
 • Total9.82 km2 (3.79 sq mi)
Elevation
[2]
1 m (3 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total7,485
 • Density760/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
DemonymPekelaar
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
9665
Area code0597

Oude Pekela (Gronings: Olle Pekel; Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʌudə ˈpeːkəlaː]) is a town in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Pekela, about 5 km 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[edit]

Peat colony[edit]

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.[3] Oude Pekela was established to house the workers.[4] The town is named after the Pekel A,[5] and is a linear settlement along the river which has been canalised and renamed Pekelderdiep [nl].[6] In 1635, it became part of the Groninger Peat Colonies [nl], and was controlled by the city of Groningen as a colony.[7][8] In 1704, the settlement was split into Oude Pekela (Old) and Nieuwe Pekela (New),[9] because a second church was built.[10]

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.[11] In 1808, Oude Pekela was home to 3,371 people.[12] In 1810, after Napoleon annexed the Batavian Republic, Oude Pekela became a separate commune and a mayor was appointed the next year.[13] Oude Pekela remained a separate municipality until 1990, when it merged with Nieuwe Pekela.[14]

Maritime transport[edit]

The River Pekel A connected Oude Pekela with the Dollart and the Wadden Sea.[3] 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.[15] Boat builders set up shop in the village,[16] and the maritime industry flourished.[15] In 1863, 60 wharfs and 160 ships were registered in Oude Pekela.[17] The increasing popularity of the steamship resulted in a gradual decline.[15] By 1892, there were only seven wharfs left.[17] 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.[15][18]

Industry[edit]

Steam engine of a cardboard factory

Oude Pekela developed into the centre of the cardboard and potato starch industry,[6] The canal became known for its extreme pollution and stench. Water treatment plants were built, and the canal gradually became cleaner.[19]

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 1970 Dutch provincial elections [nl] in Groningen with 14% of the votes,[20] and Meis was promoted to the Executive Committee of the CPN.[21]

Jewish community[edit]

In 1685, the first Jews settled in Oude Pekela, and were joined by immigrants from East Frisia and Poland in the late 18th century.[22] Around 1700, the first Jewish cemetery was established, and the first synagogue was built in 1791. In 1884, a larger synagogue was constructed.[23] In 1942, there were 150 Jews in Oude Pekela. Only 12 survived World War II.[22] The synagogue was bought by the municipality in 1976,[24] and was used by the boy scouts, but was demolished in 1979.[25]

Recent history[edit]

Freebrug (2021)

In the late 20th century, most of the factories in Oude Pekela closed down.[26] HempFlax [nl], a hemp factory, is still located in the town.[27] 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.[28]

Oude Pekela is still one of the poorest places with high unemployment.[29] In 2009 and 2010, Elsevier Weekblad considered it the worst place of the Netherlands,[30] however the inhabitants thoroughly disagreed.[31] The town serves as a regional shopping centre. In 2017, the renovation of the centre started.[32] The municipality managed to entice shops to return to the centre, and the renovation was completed in December 2021.[33] In 2021, it had the most affordable real estate of the country.[34]

Transport[edit]

Roundabout on the N367

Between 1885 and 1939, Oude Pekela was served by the steam tram from Winschoten to Stadskanaal.[35] Oude Pekela can be reached by car via the N367 which connects to the A7 motorway.[36]

Sport[edit]

Oude Pekela hosted the finish of stage 4b at the 2012 Energiewacht Tour,[37] and the start of stage 2 at the 2013 Energiewacht Tour.[38]

Notable people[edit]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau Statistics. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Postcodetool for 9665BD". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b Bosgra 1930, pp. 11–12.
  4. ^ "Oude Pekela binnenkort 350 jaar". Provinciale Drentsche en Asser courant (in Dutch). 24 June 1949. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Oude Pekela - (geografische naam)". Etymologie Bank. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Pekela". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  7. ^ Bosgra 1930, p. 14.
  8. ^ "Oude Veenkoloniën". Landschap Geschiedenis (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  9. ^ Bosgra 1930, p. 49.
  10. ^ "Nieuwe Pekela - (geografische naam)". Etymologie Bank (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  11. ^ Bosgra 1930, pp. 62–63.
  12. ^ Bosgra 1930, p. 108.
  13. ^ Bosgra 1930, pp. 64–65.
  14. ^ Ad van der Meer and Onno Boonstra, Repertorium van Nederlandse gemeenten, KNAW, 2011.
  15. ^ a b c d "Pekela aan zee". De Verhalen van Groningen (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  16. ^ Bosgra 1930, p. 50.
  17. ^ a b Bosgra 1930, p. 52.
  18. ^ "De collectie van Kapiteinshuis Pekel". Museum TV (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  19. ^ "Brandend water in de kanalen van Pekela". De Verhalen van Groningen (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Provinciale Staten 18 maart 1970". Verkiezingsuitslagen (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  21. ^ a b Gerrit Voerman (2013). "Meis, Frederik (1921-1992)". Biographical Dictionary of the Netherlands (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  22. ^ a b "Geschiedenis". Geschiedenis Bibliotheek Groningen (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  23. ^ Bosgra 1930, p. 45.
  24. ^ "Oude Pekela geeft zeventig mille voor vroege synagoge". Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). 24 January 1976.
  25. ^ "Joodse gemeenschap in Pekela". De Verhalen van Groningen (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  26. ^ Essink, Karel (2009). De Dollard, een dynamisch systeem onder invloed van de mens (PDF). Stormvloed 1509 - Geschiedenis van de Dollard (in Dutch). p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  27. ^ "HempFlax Invests €3m In Headquarters Creating The World's Most Advanced Hemp Processing Facility". Business Scan (Press release). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  28. ^ Jenny Velthuys (10 August 2011). "De mysterieuze clownsaffaire". De Groene Amsterdammer (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  29. ^ "Als Pekela de opbrengst van zijn delfstoffen in eigen zak had mogen steken". De Verhalen van Groningen (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  30. ^ "Pekela slechtste gemeente om te wonen". RTV Noord (in Dutch). 25 June 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  31. ^ "Pekela! Rutger bezoekt de Slechtste Plek van Nederland". Geen Stijl via Youtube (in Dutch). 3 November 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  32. ^ "Oude Pekela Centraal". Pekela.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  33. ^ "Aanpak centrum Oude Pekela definitief afgerond". De Koerier (in Dutch). 27 December 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  34. ^ "Koopwoningen in Pekela duurder, maar goedkoopst van heel Nederland". Prachtig Pekela (in Dutch). 22 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  35. ^ "Historische tramrails uit Oude Pekela naar museum van Star". Prachtig Pekela (in Dutch). 1 January 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  36. ^ "Bedrijventerrein West". Pekela (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  37. ^ "Energiewacht Tour (NED) 07 Apr 2012 - Stage 4b (TTT): Veendam - Oude Pekela". UCI. 7 April 2012. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  38. ^ "Opnieuw winst Wild in Energiewacht Tour". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 4 April 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  39. ^ "Gerard Wiekens". World Football. Retrieved 22 February 2022.

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

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