DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

6 October 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Election 2025
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Election 2025
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Peat diggers turn up part of primeval wood in Friesland

September 15, 2025
Marshland in Fochtelooerveen, Friesland. Photo: ANP

Digging work for a new lake has turned up hundreds of ancient tree trunks and branches near Oudega in Friesland, part of a primeval forest dating back 6000 years.

Locals knew about the wood but nothing was known about how much there was or how old it was, according to Jos Bazelmans of the government cultural heritage organisation RCE, which was called in to investigate the site.

The large-scale removal of peat is no longer common in the Netherlands, providing researchers a rare chance to do some scientific digging of their own, Bazelmans told Omrop Fryslân.

Samples taken from the trunks that were sent for analysis to determine their age were shown to be between 4000 and 6000 years old. Dendrological techniques can even determine the exact age of the tree, with one of the samples dating back to 3729 BC.

According to Bazelmans, the primeval forest was “not affected by human activity”, implying few people lived in the area at the time.  

The wood is thought to comprise a 90-hectare area. ‘We expect to take samples from over a thousand trees over a period of two to three years, Bazelmans said.

The RCA has until the end of 2027, when work on the lake will be completed, to investigate the site.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Archaeology Friesland Heritage Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
In Amsterdam, 250,000 call on government to get tough on Israel
"The Netherlands has stood still for 15 years," says Rob Jetten
Ueda bags double as Feyenoord hold nerve to keep Eredivisie lead
"Every voice should be heard": internationals take on critics
Podcast: The Wouter Koolmees Is Watching You Edition
NewsHomeEconomyElection 2025Art and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now