Peest offers several very different ways to explore local history: a historic airfield with a distinctive layout, a memorial site near Westerveen, listed buildings, and paths through the heathland. For planning purposes, two clear differences are also useful to know: the walking routes are approximately 3.75 and 7 kilometres long, respectively, and local events depend on different seasons and conditions.

Airfield History and Remembrance

The Peest airfield in Drenthe covered 280 hectares and had three grass runways arranged in a large A shape. Its size and layout give the historic airfield a distinctive form. A memorial near Westerveen commemorates British airmen and French paratroopers who lost their lives there during the Second World War. The memorial stele is 2.5 metres high and made of polished granite; abstract, claw-like fingers made of stainless steel are located at the edge. Its dedication, materials, and form make the memorial site a subject in its own right alongside the history of the airfield.

Westerveen, popularly also known as “Hitlerring,” is a water basin hidden in the woods at Peest airfield. It served as a supply of firefighting water, adding a technical function to the airfield’s history. Peest therefore has several different historical traces: the large-scale airfield, the memorial to the airmen and paratroopers who lost their lives in the war, and the basin that served as a supply of firefighting water.

Village Layout and Listed Buildings

Peest’s scattered buildings lie on both sides of Hoofdweg and Schaapdijk. A small triangular village green, or brink, with several old farmhouses is also one of the village’s defining features. The shape and location of this brink provide a concrete focal point for the village layout.

The farmhouse at Schaapdijk 3 dates from the 19th century. It has a side entrance beneath a gabled roof that is partly thatched and partly tiled. The change in materials is a striking architectural detail. At Schaapdijk 1, the Peest transformer house is designated a provincial monument. Together, the two buildings show different aspects of local cultural heritage: a farmhouse with a distinctive roof and a listed transformer house.

Walks and Seasonal Activities

The Westerveen walking route from Peest is approximately 3.75 kilometres long and starts at the intersection of Hoofdweg and Schaapdijk. The approximately 7-kilometre Noordsche Veld route also starts in Peest and follows a shell path across the heathland. The routes therefore differ both in their approximate length and in the route described: a precise starting point is given for Westerveen, while Noordsche Veld is described as following a shell path across the heathland. Check current path conditions before setting out.

Local activities also depend on specific conditions. Every year at Easter, Boermarke Peest makes an Easter bonfire possible; check the date and arrangements before your trip. In winter, the Hou Streek skating club organises competitions for young and old on the ice rink beside the Mug, when the ice is thick enough. Check ice conditions and current arrangements before making plans. The Easter bonfire and competitions thus offer two seasonal options that depend on different dates or conditions.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Peize, Roderwolde, Westervelde, Roden, Norg, Zuidvelde, Een, Een-West.

For the higher-level travel overview: Noordenveld.