Leek, Netherlands
Encyclopedia
Leek is a municipality
and a village
in the Groningen
province in the northeastern Netherlands
, bordering on the Drenthe
and Fryslân
provinces.
The village is approximately 20 km west of Groningen (city) on the A7 (E22) highway
.
The village grew around a fortification
that was constructed here during the Eighty Years' War with Spain
. The name 'Leek' was derived from a brook, the "Leke". The town is sometimes also called "The Leek". In Dutch
the people from Leek are called "Leeksters".
Every year around pentecost
there is a fair
(Pinkstermarkt), drawing thousands of people from the area.
Near the village is a shallow lake
, called "Het Leekstermeer" (also called Zulthemeer), with recreation
al facilities. Actually, the lake is in another municipality and in another province
.
. The Nienoord estate was founded in 1508. After a destroying fire a new manor-house was built in 1887. The gardens and the shell-grotto were restored.
In this manor-house is situated the National Carriage
Museum
.
In 1958 the National Carriage Museum rented the house and gardens. The National Carriage Museum presents an overal view of the various types of carriages and sleighs from the 18th to the 20th century. The 250 coaches in the museum’s collection were used by farmers, the common man, the nobleman and royalty.
In the estate is situated a recreation park (Family-park Nienoord) with model railways in several scales, including "live steam
".
In Tolbert and Midwolde are churches from the 12th century. The churches are build in the Romano-Gothic
style. Typical for this style are the walls and gables of brick that are richly decorated with recesses and patterns of bricks.
In the Church of Midwolda is a tomb monument sculpted by Rombout Verhulst
. Rombout Verhulst also decorated tomb of Michiel de Ruyter in the Nieuwe Kerk
in Amsterdam
.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
and a village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in the Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
province in the northeastern Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, bordering on the Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
and Fryslân
Friesland
Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
provinces.
The village is approximately 20 km west of Groningen (city) on the A7 (E22) highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
.
The village grew around a fortification
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
that was constructed here during the Eighty Years' War with Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The name 'Leek' was derived from a brook, the "Leke". The town is sometimes also called "The Leek". In Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
the people from Leek are called "Leeksters".
Every year around pentecost
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
there is a fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
(Pinkstermarkt), drawing thousands of people from the area.
Near the village is a shallow lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
, called "Het Leekstermeer" (also called Zulthemeer), with recreation
Recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
al facilities. Actually, the lake is in another municipality and in another province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
.
Attractions in the Leek Municipality
The main attraction in the village is the "Nienoord" estateEstate (house)
An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion. It is the modern term for a manor, but lacks the latter's now abolished jurisdictional authority...
. The Nienoord estate was founded in 1508. After a destroying fire a new manor-house was built in 1887. The gardens and the shell-grotto were restored.
In this manor-house is situated the National Carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
Museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
.
In 1958 the National Carriage Museum rented the house and gardens. The National Carriage Museum presents an overal view of the various types of carriages and sleighs from the 18th to the 20th century. The 250 coaches in the museum’s collection were used by farmers, the common man, the nobleman and royalty.
In the estate is situated a recreation park (Family-park Nienoord) with model railways in several scales, including "live steam
Live steam
Live steam is steam under pressure, obtained by heating water in a boiler. The steam is used to operate stationary or moving equipment.A live steam machine or device is one powered by steam, but the term is usually reserved for those that are replicas, scale models, toys, or otherwise used for...
".
In Tolbert and Midwolde are churches from the 12th century. The churches are build in the Romano-Gothic
Romano-Gothic
The Romano-Gothic is an architectural style, also called Early Gothic, which evolved in Europe in the 12th century from the Romanesque style. It is characterized by rounded and pointed arches on a vertical plane. Flying buttresses were used, but are mainly undecorated. Romanesque buttresses were...
style. Typical for this style are the walls and gables of brick that are richly decorated with recesses and patterns of bricks.
In the Church of Midwolda is a tomb monument sculpted by Rombout Verhulst
Rombout Verhulst
Rombout Verhulst was a Brabant sculptor.-Life:Rombout Verhulst studied in Mechelen with the sculptors Rombout Verstappen en Frans van Loo ....
. Rombout Verhulst also decorated tomb of Michiel de Ruyter in the Nieuwe Kerk
Nieuwe Kerk (Amsterdam)
The Nieuwe Kerk is a 15th-century church in Amsterdam, located on Dam Square, next to the Royal Palace.-History:The bishop of Utrecht gave the city of Amsterdam permission to use a second the parish church in 1408 because the Oude Kerk had grown too small for the growing population of the city....
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.