Peat extraction
1300 to 1962
Peat extraction has been carried out in this area since at least 1321 (probably longer). If you look closely, you can still recognise structures or field names from the past. For example, the Hündfelder Moor owes its name to the so-called ‘Hondeplaggen’, also known as ‘Brennplaggen’, which were cut directly under the sods.
‘Kuhlen/koel’n’ are rows of peat pits in which peat is cut. The deeper black peat is particularly interesting because it burns best. To dig hollows, the top layer must first be removed. One of the methods used for this is to burn off the top layer of vegetation after digging shallow drainage ditches. Bog buckwheat is then sown there. After 6 years of sowing and renewed burning of the bog buckwheat, the top layer of peat is burnt off. The underlying black peat can then be extracted
South of the Glanerbeek stream there are a number of hollows or low-lying areas. There are also peat hollows (Kluundellen): round, flat areas paved with stones and clay, where horses with planks under their hooves stamped water out of the wet peat.
