Beerta

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Beerta

| settlement_type = Village

| image_skyline = Beerta, toren 2007-05-20 12.00.JPG

| imagesize =

| image_alt = Red brick tower with a grey tile roof

| image_caption = The church tower in 2007

| nickname =

| motto =

| pushpin_map = Netherlands Groningen#Netherlands

| pushpin_label_position = left

| pushpin_map_alt = Topographic map of Groningen with Beerta in the center east

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Beerta in Groningen in the Netherlands

| coordinates = {{coord|53|10|26|N|7|5|42|E|region:NL-GR|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_footnotes =

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = Netherlands

| subdivision_type1 = Province

| subdivision_name1 = Groningen

| subdivision_type2 = Municipality

| subdivision_name2 = Oldambt

| unit_pref = Metric

| area_footnotes =

| area_total_km2 = 36.33

| area_land_km2 =

| area_water_km2 =

| area_urban_km2 =

| area_rural_km2 =

| elevation_footnotes = {{cite web |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |title = Postcodetool for 9686MA |language = nl |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis |access-date = 2 March 2022 |archive-date = 25 December 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181225104542/http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool%0A |url-status = live }}

| elevation_m = 2

| population_footnotes = {{cite web|url=https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_excel/2021/48/kwb-2021.xls |title=Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 |website=Central Bureau Statistics |access-date=1 March 2022}}

| population_total = 2,205

| population_as_of = 2021

| population_density_km2 = auto

| postal_code_type = Postal code

| postal_code = 9686

| area_code = 0597

}}

Beerta ({{IPA|nl|ˈbeːrtaː}}; {{langx|gos|(De) Beert(e)}} {{IPA|gos|də ˈbɪːdə|}}) is a village and former municipality with a population of 2,205 in the municipality of Oldambt in the province of Groningen in the Netherlands. In the 20th century, Beerta was a communist stronghold. In 1933, the municipal council was dismissed by the government, and was ruled by a {{ill|government commissioner|nl|Regeringscommissaris}} until 1935. Between 1982 and 1990, Beerta was the only municipality with a communist mayor.

Etymology

Beerta means "place with houses" (English: neighboorhood; Frisian: buorren){{cite web|url=https://etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/beerta |title=Beerta - (geografische naam) |website=Etymologie Bank |access-date=2 March 2022 |language=nl}} The name was sometimes explained as relating to the 12th century {{ill|monastery Barthe|de|Kloster Barthe}} which was lost in a flood,{{cite book |url=https://dbnl.org/tekst/sten009monu04_01/sten009monu04_01_0012.php |title=Beerta |author=Redmer Alma |year=1998 |page=74 |publisher=Waanders Uitgevers |location=Zwolle |isbn=90 400 9258 3 |language=nl |access-date=1 March 2022 |quote=Contains Barthe claim which was proven false}} however the monastery has been excavated in Hesel, East Frisia, Germany, in 1988.{{cite web|url=http://www.rolf-baerenfaenger.de/klosterb.htm |title=Wüstung Kloster Barthe |website=Rolf Baerenfanger |access-date=2 March 2022 |language=de}}

History

The Dollart is a bay in the Wadden Sea which was gradually expanding in size. Around 1600, it peaked at around {{convert|250|km2}}.{{cite conference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428154820if_/http://www.verdronkengeschiedenis.nl/nl/stormvloed/docs/12-Essink-De%20Dollard-NL-1-opmaak-def.pdf |url=http://www.verdronkengeschiedenis.nl/nl/stormvloed/docs/12-Essink-De%20Dollard-NL-1-opmaak-def.pdf |archive-date=28 April 2019| title=De Dollard, een dynamisch systeem onder invloed van de mens |conference=Stormvloed 1509 - Geschiedenis van de Dollard |year=2009 |last1=Essink |first1=Karel |language=nl |page=2}} Beerta was located on higher ground, and became a peninsula in the bay.{{cite book|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/boeken/view?coll=boeken&page=2&identifier=MMKB02:000117904:00066&objectsearch=beerta&query=beerta+oldambt |title=Geschiedkundige atlas van Nederland |year=1918 |page=62 |author1=P.J. Blok |author2=A.A. Beekman |publisher=Nijhoff |location=The Hague |language=nl}} The village dates from the 11th century.

The expanding Dollart implied that parts of Beerta were moved to higher ground. The Saint Bartholomew Church dates from between 1506 and 1508, and was partially constructed using material of a 1462 church. The poldering of the Dollart resulted in a large areas of cultivated land, and in the mid-19th century, Beerta became a prosperous village with an elite of rich farmers. In 1840, it was home to 3,189 people.

The disparity in wealth resulted in the emergence of communists. In 1919, the first communists were elected to the municipal council.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=beerta+communisten&coll=ddd&page=3&sortfield=date&identifier=MMKB23:001525085:mpeg21:a00080&resultsidentifier=MMKB23:001525085:mpeg21:a00080&rowid=1 |title=Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen |website=Het vaderland |date=20 May 1919 |language=nl|access-date=2 March 2022}}

Beerta was a separate municipality until 1990, when it merged with Finsterwolde and Nieuweschans to form a new municipality that was initially also called Beerta, but was renamed Reiderland one year later. In 2010, Reiderland merged into the new municipality of Oldambt.{{cite news|url=https://www.plaatsengids.nl/beerta |title=Beerta |website=Plaatsengids |access-date=2 March 2022 |language=nl}}

Communism

In 1919, the first communists were elected to the municipal council. Beerta became a Communist Party of the Netherlands (CPN) stronghold, and in 1933, it became the largest party. In December 1933, the States General of the Netherlands dissolved the municipal council claiming an ungovernable situation, and appointed a {{ill|government commissioner|nl|Regeringscommissaris}} to rule the municipality.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=beerta+communisten&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010536073:mpeg21:a0054&resultsidentifier=ddd:010536073:mpeg21:a0054&rowid=3 |title=Onder curateele |website=De Tijd |date=11 December 1933 |access-date=2 March 2022 |language=nl}} The CPN won again in the 1935 election, however the Social Democratic Workers' Party defected and formed a majority coalition with the other parties.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=beerta+communisten&coll=ddd&identifier=MMSAB03:000065936:mpeg21:a0030&resultsidentifier=MMSAB03:000065936:mpeg21:a0030&rowid=4 |title=De verkiezingen in Beerta |website=Bredasche courant |date=14 June 1935 |language=nl |access-date=2 March 2022}} Beerta would continue to be ruled by a coalition which excluded the CPN until 1966 when the communist party won the elections with an absolute majority.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=beerta+communisten&coll=ddd&page=2&identifier=ABCDDD:010835886:mpeg21:a0289&resultsidentifier=ABCDDD:010835886:mpeg21:a0289&rowid=5 |title=Communisten haalden in twee dorpen meerderheid |website=Het Parool |date=9 June 1966 |language=nl|access-date=2 March 2022}}

In 1982, Hanneke Jagersma of the CPN became the mayor of Beerta. She was the first and only communist mayor in the Netherlands.{{cite news|url=https://leiden.courant.nu/issue/LLC/1982-02-19/edition/0/page/1 |title=Beerta: eerste CPN burgemeester |website=Leidse Courant |date=19 February 1982 |access-date=2 March 2022 |language=nl}} In 1989, the CPN abandoned its Marxist–Leninist roots and merged into GroenLinks, however Jagersma did not join the new party.{{cite magazine|url=https://issuu.com/webmastersp/docs/tribune_februari2013/17 |title=Ik weigerde bedrijven te openen, zelfs van kleine middenstanders |website=Tribune via Issuu |page=16 |language=nl |year=2013 |access-date=2 March 2022}} In 1990, Beerta was merged into Reiderland and Jagersma was no longer mayor.{{cite news|url=http://www.dekrantvantoen.nl/vw/article.do?v2=true&id=NVHN-19890914-AE0003002 |title=De burgemeesters voor wie geen gemeente meer is |language=nl |website=Nieuwsblad van het Noorden |year=1989 |access-date=2 March 2022}}

Geography

Beerta is situated in the municipality of Oldambt and the (historical) region of Oldambt in the east of the province of Groningen in the northeast of the Netherlands.

To the southwest of Beerta is Winschoten, to the west is Blauwestad, to the north is Finsterwolde, to the east is Bad Nieuweschans, to the southeast is Bellingwolde, and to the south is Blijham. North of Beerta is the Dollart, which is part of the Wadden Sea, to the west is the Oldambtmeer, and to the southeast are the rivers Westerwoldse Aa and Pekel Aa.

The former municipality of Beerta included the settlements Drieborg, Nieuw-Beerta, Nieuwe Statenzijl, Oudezijl, Oude Statenzijl, Ulsda, and Winschoterzijl.

Notable people

Hans Hateboer (born 1994), footballer{{cite news|url=https://www.oldambtnu.nl/2014/10/24/hans-hateboer-krijgt-eigen-voetbalveldje-in-beerta/ |title=Hans Hateboer krijgt eigen voetbalveldje in Beerta |website=Oldambt Nu|access-date=2 March 2022 |language=nl}}
Jurrie Koolhof (1960–2019), football striker and manager{{cite news|url=https://dvhn.nl/groningen/Oud-international-Jurrie-Koolhof-59-uit-Beerta-overleden-24119235.html |title=Oud-international en FC Groningen-scout Jurrie Koolhof (59) uit Beerta overleden |website=Dagblad van het Noorden |access-date=2 March 2022 |language=nl}}
Harry Powers (1893–1932), American serial killer{{cite web|url=https://www.criminallyintrigued.com/blog/2019/6/22/the-bluebeard-of-quiet-dell |title=The Bluebeard of Quiet Dell |website=Criminally Intrigued |access-date=2 March 2022}}
Marcus Slingenberg (1881–1941), politician and former minister of Social Affairs{{cite web|url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vg09ll8n8fyr/m_marcus_slingenberg |title=Mr. M. (Marcus) Slingenberg |website=Dutch Parliament |access-date=2 March 2022 |language=nl}}