Veenwinning

Veenwinning (Dutch for peat extraction) refers to the harvesting of peat from peatlands (veengronden), traditionally used as a fuel and later as a horticultural substrate. Peatlands are wetlands formed by accumulation of partially decayed vegetation in waterlogged conditions, creating peat. The practice developed across Northern Europe, with particular activity in the Low Countries, Ireland, and parts of Scandinavia and the Baltic states.

Historically, peat was the principal energy source before coal, fueling homes and steam engines. Extraction involved draining the bog to lower the water table, cutting the peat with a peat knife or excavator into turf blocks or slabs, piling for air drying, and transporting by barge or wagon to mills or markets. The process altered hydrology, caused land subsidence, and reduced biodiversity in many areas.

In the modern era, peat extraction has declined or ceased in many countries due to environmental concerns and policy measures. In the Netherlands and elsewhere, peat landscapes have been protected or restored; existing operations are often subject to strict environmental controls, and many sites are being rewetted or converted to nature reserves or flooded as part of climate and biodiversity restoration. Peat is still produced in some regions for horticultural use, though largely sourced from regulated deposits and subject to sustainability criteria to minimize carbon release.

The topic intersects with land management, conservation, and climate policy, given peatlands' role as carbon stores and biodiversity habitats.