De Peel is a region in the southeast of the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

that straddles the border between the provinces of

North Brabant North Brabant ( nl, Noord-Brabant ; Brabantian: ; ), also unofficially called Brabant, is a province in the south of the Netherlands. It borders the provinces of South Holland and Gelderland to the north, Limburg to the east, Zeeland to t ...

and

Limburg Limburg or Limbourg may refer to: Regions * Limburg (Belgium), a province since 1839 in the Flanders region of Belgium * Limburg (Netherlands), a province since 1839 in the south of the Netherlands * Diocese of Limburg, Roman Catholic Diocese in ...

. The region is best known for the extraction of

peat Peat (), also known as turf (), is an accumulation of partially Decomposition, decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, Moorland, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem covers and ...

for fuel, which had been going on since the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

but is no longer done. For this purpose many canals were dug to remove the water and for ships to move out the peat. An area that has remained partly untouched by the peat-cutting was turned into a National Park, the

Groote Peel De Groote Peel National Park is a national park in the De Peel, a region in the southeast of the Netherlands on the border between the provinces of Limburg and North Brabant. It has a size of 13.4 km² and preserves a peat bog that has re ...

. It has a size of 13.4 km². It is one of the most bird-rich areas in Western Europe, with resident

black-necked grebe The black-necked grebe or eared grebe (''Podiceps nigricollis'') is a member of the grebe family of water birds. It was described in 1831 by Christian Ludwig Brehm. There are currently three accepted subspecies, including the nominate subspecie ...

s and sometimes migrating

common crane The common crane (''Grus grus''), also known as the Eurasian crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes. A medium-sized species, it is the only crane commonly found in Europe besides the demoiselle crane (''Grus virgo'') and the Siberian ...

s in October/November. The terrain is varied with inaccessible peat swamps, lakes, heath land and sand ridges. The present swamp and some of the lakes were created by the cutting of peat. There are very many villages in the Peel, the most of them founded by bosses of peat companies. For example: Helenaveen and Griendtsveen, founded by Jan van de Griendt (1804–1882)

Trivia

* The Northern

ish band Rowwen Hèze made a well-known song about the area named: ''De Peel in brand'' (The Peel on fire).

External link

Regions of North Brabant Regions of Limburg (Netherlands) Regions of the Netherlands Bogs of the Netherlands {{LimburgNL-geo-stub