Oude Pekela, Boven Pekela, Nieuwe Pekela

Pekela takes its name from the Pekel A canal, which originally served to transport peat and was later channelled into the Pekelerdiep. The name probably refers to the salty or brackish water in the area, possibly caused by peat excavation and the influence of the subsoil. The growth of the peat-colonial settlement led to the creation of several residential centres along the canal, which eventually developed into Oude Pekela and Nieuwe Pekela.

During the French Revolution, Pekela was officially split into two municipalities: Oude and Nieuwe Pekela. This division reflected the increasing population and economic activity, with Oude Pekela focusing mainly on peat extraction and shipping, while Nieuwe Pekela became an independent community. In 1990, the two municipalities were merged back into one Pekela, to restore the administrative unit and increase efficiency.

Boven Pekela lies to the south of Nieuwe Pekela and used to form a single entity with it. The name ‘Boven’ does not refer to the geographical location, but to the direction of flow of the Pekel A, which ran in a southerly direction. As a result, Boven Pekela is actually ‘above’ (boven) Nieuwe Pekela, despite its name. This unusual naming illustrates how waterways and peat extraction played a decisive role in the development and identity of the area.