Opsterland
flag |
coat of arms |
province | Fryslân |
mayor | Ellen van Selm ( D66 ) |
Seat of the municipality | Beetsterzwaag |
Area - land - water |
227.64 km 2 224.48 km 2 3.16 km 2 |
CBS code | 0086 |
Residents | 29,667 (Jan 31, 2019) |
Population density | 130 inhabitants / km 2 |
Coordinates | 53 ° 3 ' N , 6 ° 5' E |
Important traffic route | |
prefix | 0512, 0513, 0516 |
Postcodes | 8401, 8403-8409, 9207, 9241, 9243-9249 |
Website | Homepage of Opsterland |
Opsterland ( West Frisian Opsterlân ) is a municipality in the province of Friesland ( Netherlands ). It has 29,667 inhabitants (as of January 31, 2019).
) (places
The administrative seat is Beetsterzwaag (West Frisian: Beetstersweach).
The other places in the parish are:
- Bakkeveen
- Frieschepalen (West Frisian: Fryske Peallen)
- Gorredijk, West Frisian: de Gordyk; it is the largest village in the parish.
- Hemrik
- Jonkerslân
- Langezwaag (West Frisian: Langsweagen)
- Lip huizen
- Luxwoude (West Frisian: Lukswâld)
- Nij Beets
- Olterterp
- Siegerswoude (West Frisian: Sigerswâld)
- Terwispel
- Tijnje
- Ureterp (West Frisian: Oerterp)
- Wijnjewoude (West Frisian: Wynjewâld)
Location and economy
The municipality is located in the south-east of the province, immediately south of Drachten , in the “Fryske Wâlden” ( Frisian Forests ) area, which is rich in small forests and heather areas. The landscape is also characterized by moors and canals dug between the 17th and 19th centuries for peat extraction . The most important of these waterways, the Opsterlandse Compagnonsvaart , crosses several places in the municipality and is now used for water sports tourism. The A7 Groningen - Heerenveen motorway runs through the northern part of the municipality , with exits at Beetsterzwaag and Drachten (junction with the N31 Leeuwarden - Beilen - Emmen road ). The village of Ureterp is near this junction. There are no railways in this region.
The Drachten industrial area of Azeven, south of the autobahn, is on the territory of the municipality of Opsterland. Beetsterzwaag has several old mansions and mansions, some of which are used as luxury hotels and conference centers. The most famous of these houses, Lauswolt , served in 2006 as a secret location for coalition meetings to form a government.
The varied landscape is an attraction for tourists. Agriculture and livestock farming predominate in the west of the community.
history
With the exception of a few settlements on narrow sand ridges (Lip Huizen, Bakkeveen, Duurswoude, Olterterp, Ureterp), the area was for a long time a wild heathland and moorland . Around 1630 , when Gorredijk was founded and the excavation of the Opsterlandse Compagnonsvaart began, the situation changed quickly. The moors were buried for peat extraction and to create new agriculturally usable soil. Gorredijk was then of supraregional importance for trade and inland navigation for over 200 years; from 1672 it was even a fortress temporarily . Rich families, some of them aristocratic, also settled near Bakkeveen and, above all, Beetsterzwaag and had a country estate created there, for example the Eysingahuis . The simple peasants and moor workers, however, were very poor; there was much misery, even sometimes famine , until the early 20th century . Except for Terwispel, the soils were not very fertile; the workers were often poorly paid. The socialist and anarchist politician Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis made several attempts in the late 19th century to improve the fortunes of these people. Only after the Second World War , when industry developed in the northern neighboring town of Drachten and tourism emerged, did the municipality's economic situation improve significantly.
Attractions
- There are many small forests, heaths and other natural areas in the municipality. There are many opportunities for cycling or hiking. The visitor center De Slotplaats near Bakkeveen is a suitable starting point for this.
- In Nij Beets there is a small open-air museum, It Damshûs, where you can get an impression of the life of the moor workers and peat diggers. (open from May to the end of September)
- Water sports are possible on the Opsterlandse Compagnonsvaart and some other moor canals.
- In the center of Gorredijk, which resembles a small town, there are some old houses. You can also do the necessary shopping there.
- At the luxury hotel Lauswolt, near Beetsterzwaag, there is a freely accessible forest; there is also an 18-hole golf course there .
politics
Distribution of seats in the municipal council
The local elections on March 21, 2018 resulted in the following distribution of seats:
Political party | Seats | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | 2010 | 2014 | 2018 | |
Opsterland's concern | 6th | 7th | 6th | 6th |
CDA | 3 | 4th | 3 | 3 |
PvdA | 7th | 5 | 4th | 3 |
ChristenUnie | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
OpsterLanders | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 a |
VVD | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Drunk, Anders en seed | - | - | 1 | 1 |
D66 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 |
FNP | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
total | 21st | 23 | 21st | 21st |
mayor
Ellen van Selm ( D66 ) has been the acting mayor of the municipality since December 1, 2014 . The councilors include Rob Jonkman (ChristenUnie), Anko Postma (Opsterlands Belang), Libbe de Vries (PvdA) and the community secretary Koen van Veen.
Web links
- Website of the municipality (Dutch)
- Website of the Museum It Damshûs (Dutch)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand . In: StatLine . Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (Dutch)
- ↑ Result of the local elections: 2014 2018 , accessed on June 18, 2018 (Dutch)
- ↑ Allocation of seats in the municipal council: 2006 2010 2014 2018 , accessed on June 18, 2018 (Dutch)
- ↑ Ellen van Selm: nieuwe burgermeester Opsterland. In: bakkeveen.nl. December 1, 2014, accessed June 18, 2018 (Dutch).
- ↑ Samenstelling college van B & W Gemeente Opsterland, accessed on June 18, 2018 (Dutch)