Peelwatt

From a gentle trickle to a vital waterway, the Peelwatt whispers stories of Flensburg’s past. The Peelwatt isn’t just a district in southern Flensburg. It’s also the name of the small river that meanders through it. And yes, there’s even a street named Peelwatt, tracing the river’s edge. The name itself is a clue to its history. “Peel” hints at a pillar or post, possibly marking a crossing point. “Watt” likely refers to a wetland or ford. Put them together, and Peelwatt translates to “pile ford,” painting a picture of a vital crossing point along the river. The Peelwatt district sits south of Rude, both part of Flensburg’s Südstadt. Bounded by Husumer Straße, Zur Bleiche, and Eckernförder Landstraße to the north, and the Westtangente to the west, the Peelwatt encompasses a diverse landscape. A significant portion is occupied by the Gewerbegebiet Süd (South Industrial Area) and the former Peelwatt railway depot, now silent and still. The future of these railway lands remains uncertain, currently reclaimed by nature. But change is on the horizon. A central hospital for Flensburg is planned along the still-open section of the Peelwatt. A new exit from the Osttangente is envisioned, connecting the hospital to the city’s road network, along with a large parking area. The river Peelwatt itself begins as a series of ditches in the moraine southeast of Tastrup. It flows southwest, eventually joining the Scherrebek. Interestingly, after flowing under the Fredericia-Flensburg railway line, the Peelwatt changes its name to Scherrebek. Within the industrial area, the river is largely hidden underground, only reappearing near Schleswiger Straße. But the paved surfaces of the industrial area have a consequence. Heavy rains send significant volumes of water surging into the Peelwatt, a reminder of the river’s enduring presence in this evolving landscape.