Pesse: Canoe, Landscape and Building History

There are several distinct themes to choose from for a stay in Pesse: the archaeological history of the Pesse Canoe, the Nuilerveld, and local history and architecture. This lets you choose a focus between prehistory, landscape and architecture. The find context of the canoe and the starting point of the walking route in the Nuilerveld are especially specific; the identification of the former village centre and the features of the Reformed church add further perspectives.

The Pesse Canoe and Prehistory

The Pesse Canoe was found in 1955 during construction of the A28 near Pesse. Pesse is associated with the watercraft as the place where it was found. The canoe is dated to the Mesolithic, or Middle Stone Age, and is described as the world’s oldest watercraft. The find thus connects a precise location with a specific year and a prehistoric period. Two aspects should be distinguished when dating it: 1955 refers to its discovery during construction of the A28, while the Mesolithic is the period to which the canoe is dated.

Nuilerveld and Pesser Es

The Nuilerveld offers a different focus: since 2018, it has been a geological monument. The walking route in the Nuilerveld starts at a car park on Hendrik Reindersweg, opposite the farmhouse at number 18. The directions combine the road with a landmark opposite, making them easy to use when planning a walk. While the canoe connects to prehistory through its discovery year and period, the Nuilerveld is notable for its geological classification and a clearly identified starting point for a route.

Another landscape feature is the Pesser Es. It was formed by the fields on the edge of the village of Pesse. This directly links the Pesser Es with the farmland at the edge of the village; unlike the Nuilerveld, the focus here is not on the starting point of a walking route, but on local landscape history. For travellers interested in the relationship between the village and its surrounding cultural landscape, this name offers a distinct point of reference.

Local History and Architecture

Local history also has a medieval connection: the former village centre of Pesse is identified with what is now called Molenhoek. This identification links a historic settlement site with a present-day name. It differs from the history of the canoe: here the focus is on the former village centre, while there it is on a single archaeological object. This gives local history its own point of reference alongside prehistory.

A specific historic building in the village is the Reformed church on Hoogeveenseweg in Pesse. It was built in 1871 and is a hall church. The term refers to a church building with a hall-like interior; as a building type, it adds an architectural classification to the date. The church also has a large, white, openwork roof turret and a 19th-century bell. The year it was built, its hall-church form and these features describe different aspects of the building: its date of construction, its type and specific architectural details.

Discover more travel destinations: Nieuwlande, Stuifzand, Tiendeveen, Nieuweroord, Hoogeveen, Hollandscheveld, Elim, Fluitenberg.

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