Smallingerland
Encyclopedia
Smallingerland is a municipality
in the province of Friesland
in the Netherlands
.
, De Tike
, De Veenhoop
, De Wilgen
, Drachten
(main town), Drachtstercompagnie
, Goëngahuizen
, Houtigehage
, Kortehemmen
, Nijega
, Opeinde
, Oudega
, Rottevalle
and Smalle Ee
.
, which used to have a major monastery
. In the 14th century the annual fair of Smalle Ee became equally important as the ones of Leeuwarden and Dokkum
. The name Drachten
is possibly a derivative from the old Frisian word Darch, meaning peat
y soil
.
The central function of Drachten in the district goes back to 1641. A Holland businessman thought it would pay to exploit the peat. 800 workers were employed to dig the Drachtstervaart canal. The peat exploitation was a disappointment, however the Drachtstervaart triggered economical activities, such as the shipbuilding industry. The typical peat bog landscape can still be seen, particularly near Drachtstercompagnie
.
Since the 1950s Drachten developed rapidly. Right now, Drachten has an important function in the region. The Smallingerland District has thirteen smaller villages besides Drachten, the largest being Opeinde
with 1731 residents, the smallest is Smalle Ee counting 57 villagers.
Of course there is much more to the history of the Smallingerland District. The 1998 publication 'Het Gezicht van Smallingerland' (The Scope of Smallingerland) gives a clear and easy to read overview of the district's history. A few passages from this publication:
Notary Public J.G. van Blom wrote those words of praise about his hometown in 1840 A.D.. Most of the 3,000 residents from those days would have had no chance to enjoy the umbrageous scenery; people had to make a living and after work little spare time was left. Some 200 years earlier, in 1640 A.D., the hamlets of Drachten North and Drachten South were little more than a small church and some farm houses. Other villages in the region were older, bigger and more important, for example Smalle Ee
with its monastery and subsequent activities such as an annual fair, which was always bracketed together with those of Leeuwarden en Dokkum
. Or Oudega
, where a stone church had been erected even before 1100 A.D.
Peat exploitation brought a turn-around. Peat had become an important source of energy, not only for private households but also for the industry. The need in the rapidly growing province of Holland during the 17th century was higher than Friesland could supply. Most of the transport was over water, therefore often by track boat. Peat exploitation meant a welcome activity for many villages, although most of the income did not flow into the pockets of the struggling peat cutters.
In 1641 A.D. farmers in Drachten North and Drachten South entered into an agreement with financers from the province of Holland, the 'Drachten Associates'. One of these moneylenders was businessman Passchier Hendriks Bolleman from The Hague
. The agreement stipulated that peat cut in Smallingerland was designated for the Holland industry. For transport by boat the Drachtster Compagnonsvaart canal and two side channels had to be constructed. During one year 800 workers had been digging every day. And where people spent their days, other developments followed, such as dwellings, places for storage, hostels and businesses.
Although the economic success of cutting peat was short-lived (it even led to Passchier Bolleman's financial ruin), it spurred on to the foundation of Drachten. The Drachtstervaart brought in ships and the ships brought in not only return freight, but also their own service industry: rope-yards, carpenter's yards and forges. In 1746 the first real shipyard was established on the Langewijk, initially only for the construction of timber flatboats, but after 1895 also for iron hull ships. In 1902 a second shipyard followed on the Drachtstervaart. Even in present days 'skûtsje
s' from these shipyards take part in the major Frisian sailing event, the 'skûtsjesilen'.
In the 17th century, the governor of Smallingerland - the predecessor current day's mayor - was located in Oudega
, which had taken over the annual fairs from Smalle Ee. After completion of the Drachtstervaart, the economic activities, and therefore also the annual fairs, had moved to Drachten; it would only be a matter of time for the District Council to follow.
This was the basis for the current structure of the Smallingerland District: Drachten with more than 44,000 residents and the thirteen surrounding villages totalling more than 10,000 residents. Along the 'lush road-sides' from the notary public Van Blom era residential areas have mushroomed and businesses, big and small, opened their doors. As far as employment opportunities are concerned, Smallingerland is the fourth best district in the north of the Netherlands and ranks number two within the province of Friesland. Shopping centre, nightlife, education and health care are focussed on a catchment area of more than 150,000 people.
----
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...
in the province of Friesland
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...
in the 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...
.
Population centres
BoornbergumBoornbergum
Boornbergum is a small village in Smallingerland in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 1350 citizens ....
, De Tike
De Tike
De Tike is a small village in Smallingerland in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 350 citizens .-External links:* Site about De Tike...
, De Veenhoop
De Veenhoop
De Veenhoop is a small village in Smallingerland in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 260 citizens ....
, De Wilgen
De Wilgen
De Wilgen is a small village in Smallingerland in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 850 citizens ....
, Drachten
Drachten
Drachten is a Dutch town, located in the municipality of Smallingerland in the province of Friesland.-Beginnings:Drachten began as a small community on the east side of the Drait River. There, early settlers started draining the land to use it for agriculture...
(main town), Drachtstercompagnie
Drachtstercompagnie
Drachtstercompagnie is a small village in Smallingerland in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 1200 citizens .-External links:*...
, Goëngahuizen
Goëngahuizen
Goëngahuizen is a small village in Smallingerland in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 70 citizens .-Windmills:There are three windmills in Goëngahuizen, De Jansmolen, De Modderige Bol and Heechheim....
, Houtigehage
Houtigehage
Houtigehage is a small village in Smallingerland in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 940 citizens ....
, Kortehemmen
Kortehemmen
Kortehemmen is a small village in Smallingerland in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 190 citizens ....
, Nijega
Nijega
Nijega is a small village in Smallingerland in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 516 citizens ....
, Opeinde
Opeinde
Opeinde is a village in the Dutch province of Friesland. It is a part of the municipality of Smallingerland, and lies about 5 km north of Drachten.In 2004, Opeinde had 1760 inhabitants....
, Oudega
Oudega (Smallingerland)
Oudega is a small village in Smallingerland in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 1690 citizens .-External links:*...
, Rottevalle
Rottevalle
Rottevalle is a small village in Smallingerland in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 1320 citizens .-External links:*...
and Smalle Ee
Smalle Ee
Smalle Ee is a small village in Smallingerland in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around 50 inhabitants ....
.
History
The name 'Smallingerland' is derived from the former hamlet Smalle EeSmalle Ee
Smalle Ee is a small village in Smallingerland in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around 50 inhabitants ....
, which used to have a major monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
. In the 14th century the annual fair of Smalle Ee became equally important as the ones of Leeuwarden and Dokkum
Dokkum
Dokkum is a Dutch fortified town in the municipality of Dongeradeel in the province of Friesland. It has 13,145 inhabitants . The fortifications of Dokkum are well preserved and are known as the bolwerken . - History :...
. The name Drachten
Drachten
Drachten is a Dutch town, located in the municipality of Smallingerland in the province of Friesland.-Beginnings:Drachten began as a small community on the east side of the Drait River. There, early settlers started draining the land to use it for agriculture...
is possibly a derivative from the old Frisian word Darch, meaning peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
y soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
.
The central function of Drachten in the district goes back to 1641. A Holland businessman thought it would pay to exploit the peat. 800 workers were employed to dig the Drachtstervaart canal. The peat exploitation was a disappointment, however the Drachtstervaart triggered economical activities, such as the shipbuilding industry. The typical peat bog landscape can still be seen, particularly near Drachtstercompagnie
Drachtstercompagnie
Drachtstercompagnie is a small village in Smallingerland in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 1200 citizens .-External links:*...
.
Since the 1950s Drachten developed rapidly. Right now, Drachten has an important function in the region. The Smallingerland District has thirteen smaller villages besides Drachten, the largest being Opeinde
Opeinde
Opeinde is a village in the Dutch province of Friesland. It is a part of the municipality of Smallingerland, and lies about 5 km north of Drachten.In 2004, Opeinde had 1760 inhabitants....
with 1731 residents, the smallest is Smalle Ee counting 57 villagers.
Of course there is much more to the history of the Smallingerland District. The 1998 publication 'Het Gezicht van Smallingerland' (The Scope of Smallingerland) gives a clear and easy to read overview of the district's history. A few passages from this publication:
Notary Public J.G. van Blom wrote those words of praise about his hometown in 1840 A.D.. Most of the 3,000 residents from those days would have had no chance to enjoy the umbrageous scenery; people had to make a living and after work little spare time was left. Some 200 years earlier, in 1640 A.D., the hamlets of Drachten North and Drachten South were little more than a small church and some farm houses. Other villages in the region were older, bigger and more important, for example Smalle Ee
Smalle Ee
Smalle Ee is a small village in Smallingerland in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around 50 inhabitants ....
with its monastery and subsequent activities such as an annual fair, which was always bracketed together with those of Leeuwarden en Dokkum
Dokkum
Dokkum is a Dutch fortified town in the municipality of Dongeradeel in the province of Friesland. It has 13,145 inhabitants . The fortifications of Dokkum are well preserved and are known as the bolwerken . - History :...
. Or Oudega
Oudega
Oudega is a small village in Gaasterlân-Sleat in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 270 citizens ....
, where a stone church had been erected even before 1100 A.D.
Peat exploitation brought a turn-around. Peat had become an important source of energy, not only for private households but also for the industry. The need in the rapidly growing province of Holland during the 17th century was higher than Friesland could supply. Most of the transport was over water, therefore often by track boat. Peat exploitation meant a welcome activity for many villages, although most of the income did not flow into the pockets of the struggling peat cutters.
In 1641 A.D. farmers in Drachten North and Drachten South entered into an agreement with financers from the province of Holland, the 'Drachten Associates'. One of these moneylenders was businessman Passchier Hendriks Bolleman from The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. The agreement stipulated that peat cut in Smallingerland was designated for the Holland industry. For transport by boat the Drachtster Compagnonsvaart canal and two side channels had to be constructed. During one year 800 workers had been digging every day. And where people spent their days, other developments followed, such as dwellings, places for storage, hostels and businesses.
Although the economic success of cutting peat was short-lived (it even led to Passchier Bolleman's financial ruin), it spurred on to the foundation of Drachten. The Drachtstervaart brought in ships and the ships brought in not only return freight, but also their own service industry: rope-yards, carpenter's yards and forges. In 1746 the first real shipyard was established on the Langewijk, initially only for the construction of timber flatboats, but after 1895 also for iron hull ships. In 1902 a second shipyard followed on the Drachtstervaart. Even in present days 'skûtsje
Skûtsje
A skûtsje is a Frisian sailing boat of the type tjalk, originally an ordinary cargo boat, but today a prized ship and one of the icons of Frisia...
s' from these shipyards take part in the major Frisian sailing event, the 'skûtsjesilen'.
In the 17th century, the governor of Smallingerland - the predecessor current day's mayor - was located in Oudega
Oudega
Oudega is a small village in Gaasterlân-Sleat in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 270 citizens ....
, which had taken over the annual fairs from Smalle Ee. After completion of the Drachtstervaart, the economic activities, and therefore also the annual fairs, had moved to Drachten; it would only be a matter of time for the District Council to follow.
This was the basis for the current structure of the Smallingerland District: Drachten with more than 44,000 residents and the thirteen surrounding villages totalling more than 10,000 residents. Along the 'lush road-sides' from the notary public Van Blom era residential areas have mushroomed and businesses, big and small, opened their doors. As far as employment opportunities are concerned, Smallingerland is the fourth best district in the north of the Netherlands and ranks number two within the province of Friesland. Shopping centre, nightlife, education and health care are focussed on a catchment area of more than 150,000 people.
External links
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