In 1955, the Pesse Canoe was found near Pesse during construction of the A28. This discovery offers a striking insight into local history; alongside it, Nuilerveld, earlier local landmarks and the Reformed church tell the story of the landscape and its buildings. During your stay, you can choose what to focus on depending on whether you are interested in archaeology, a walking route or historical features of the area.

The Pesse Canoe: discovery and classification

The Pesse Canoe was found near Pesse in 1955 during construction of the A28; Pesse is associated with it as its find site. It is dated to the Mesolithic period and described as the oldest watercraft in the world. The year 1955 refers to the time of its discovery, while the Mesolithic period indicates when the watercraft was made. Calling it the oldest watercraft in the world adds a third perspective: it places the canoe in a global comparison. For anyone interested in early watercraft and archaeology, it provides a clear focus for exploring local history.

Nuilerveld and walking route

Since 2018, Nuilerveld has been a geological monument. This designation adds a focus on the landscape alongside the history of the canoe’s discovery. The term “geological” draws attention to the area as a landscape, while the canoe is classified as an individual find. The walking route in Nuilerveld starts at a car park on Hendrik Reindersweg, opposite the farmhouse at number 18.

Molenhoek and the Pesser Es

The former medieval centre of Pesse is identified with today’s Molenhoek. The fields on the edge of the village of Pesse formed the Pesser Es. Molenhoek thus links an earlier settlement location with a present-day place name, while the Pesser Es refers to the fields on the edge of the village. Together, these two landmarks offer two perspectives on Pesse’s past: the location of its former settlement centre and the fields at its edge.

The Reformed church on Hoogeveenseweg

The Reformed church on Hoogeveenseweg in Pesse was built in 1871. It is a hall church with a large, white, openwork roof turret and a 19th-century bell. A hall church is characterised by a main interior designed as a single, unified space. A roof turret is a small tower on the roof; “openwork” describes the open design of this structure. The construction date and the bell’s date have different levels of precision: the church is dated to 1871, while the bell is dated to the 19th century. Together, these details give a clear picture of the architecture: the hall church describes the building’s form, the roof turret its roofline, and the bell adds another historical detail to the ensemble.

The three dates refer to different events: 1955 is the year the canoe was found, Nuilerveld has been a geological monument since 2018, and the church was built in 1871. They therefore do not refer to a single date of origin, but to a discovery, monument status and construction.

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

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