Ooststellingwerf

Ooststellingwerf ( listen? / I ) is a municipality with 25,824 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2013 ) in the south of the province of Friesland / Fryslân in the Netherlands. In the village no Frisian is spoken, but Stellingwerfs, a Lower Saxon dialect, which is related to the Drentsche.

Places

The main town of the municipality and seat of the municipality is Oosterwolde.

The other locations are: Appelscha, Donkerbroek, Elsloo (not to be confused with Elsloo in stone in Limburg), Fochteloo, Haule, Haulerwijk Langedijke, Makkinga, Oldeberkoop, Nijeberkoop, Ravenswoud and Waskemeer.

Location and economic

The municipality is located in the southeast of the province. The main town Oosterwolde located 20 km south-east of Drachten and 20 km west of Assen. The municipality borders the province of Drenthe.

Main sources of income are agriculture and tourism, the main town Oosterwolde something commercial for the local market, there are many schools.

In remote Nijeberkoop there is an area "Pantera ", a rescue center for from zoos and circuses abdicated or for failing to supply confiscated predators, mainly big cats such as tigers, leopards, lions, etc., and reptiles such as snakes. Pantera interacts with other animal welfare organizations in the Netherlands and Germany. The site can not be visited.

History

In Haulerwijk archaeologists found evidence that carriers of the Mesolithic Hamburg culture lived here more than 12,000 years ago. The area declared itself independent in 1328 by the bishop of Utrecht managed by Drenthe. It was then called by self employed population of the judges, Stellingen managed. It was then disputed between Frisians, Dutch and the Utrecht diocese. As defenses in the country were positions, " werven " called built. In the 16th century Stellingwerf was a " grietenij " ( large village ) in Friesland, which was later divided into two parts (see Weststellingwerf ). From about 1600, was dismantled by the beginning of the 20th century in the swampy part of the community peat. As of 1950, the improvement of roads and tourism consistent poverty in the area put an end to.

Attractions

Numerous biking and hiking trails are nearby. Likewise, the high moorland Fochteloer Heath, a reserve for, inter alia, birds, reptiles and bog vegetation in Appelscha beautiful forests and some other natural areas, including the banks of the brook Tjonger. In Appelscha are campsites and small hotels. In Oldeberkoop and Oosterwolde is a church from the 18th century.

Personalities

From the district Oosterwolde the current (as of April 2012) dates culture - Secretary of State in the Cabinet Rutte I, Halbe Zijlstra.