Bellingwedde

The name Bellingwedde is a portmanteau of Bellingwolde and Wedde, which are the names of the two municipalities that were merged in 1968 to form Bellingwedde. At the time, three names were considered for the new municipality: Bellingewedde, proposed by the province of Groningen, Bellingwolde-Wedde, proposed by the municipal council of Bellingwolde, and Bellingwedde, proposed by the municipal council of Wedde. The province selected the last option, which was eventually also accepted by the municipal council of Bellingwolde.Henk Beernink, [http://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=sgd:19671968:0002693:pdf Zitting 1967-1968-9409] (in Dutch), National Library of the Netherlands. Retrieved 6 January 2014.

On 1 September 1968, the municipality of Bellingwedde was formed by merging the municipalities of Bellingwolde and Wedde.Ad van der Meer & Onno Boonstra, [http://www.dans.knaw.nl/sites/default/files/file/publicaties/repertorium_NLgemeenten_1812-2006.pdf Repertorium van Nederlandse gemeenten 1812-2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116054441/http://www.dans.knaw.nl/sites/default/files/file/publicaties/repertorium_NLgemeenten_1812-2006.pdf |date=16 November 2013 }} (in Dutch), Data Archiving and Networked Services, 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2013.

Henk Eijsink of the Labour Party, who was the last mayor of Bellingwolde and acting mayor of Wedde, became the first mayor of Bellingwedde in 1968–1970."[http://www.dekrantvantoen.nl/vw/article.do?id=NVHN-19700122-AE0015001 Drs. H.J. Eijsink nieuwe burgemeester Meppel]" (in Dutch), Nieuwsblad van het Noorden, 1970. Retrieved 21 August 2015. He was followed by Jurjen Jan Hoeksema (Labour; 1970–1978),"[http://www.dekrantvantoen.nl/vw/article.do?id=DVHN-20121121-GO01040006 Jurjen Jan Hoeksema]" (in Dutch), Dagblad van het Noorden, 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2015. Engbert Drenth (Labour; 1979–2007),Marcel Looden, "[http://www.dekrantvantoen.nl/vw/article.do?id=DVHN-20070206-GO01009005 Rood en maar drie burgemeesters]" (in Dutch), Dagblad van het Noorden, 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2015. Erik Triemstra (Christian Democratic Appeal; 2007–2013) and Janneke Snijder-Hazelhoff (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy; 2013–2018).

The municipality merged with Vlagtwedde into the new municipality of Westerwolde on 1 January 2018.Marcel Looden, "[http://www.dvhn.nl/groningen/Westerwolde-40-mensen-tekort-22055710.html Westerwolde: 40 mensen tekort]" (in Dutch), Dagblad van het Noorden, 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.

File:Gem-Bellingwedde-OpenTopo.jpg

Bellingwedde is located at {{coord|53|7|N|7|9|E|display=inline}} in the east of the province of Groningen, in the northeast of the Netherlands on the border with Germany. It is in the south of the region of Oldambt and in the north of the region of Westerwolde.

Bellingwedde is bordered by the Dutch municipalities of Oldambt (in the north), Pekela (west), Stadskanaal (south-west), and Vlagtwedde (south), and by the German municipalities of Rhede (south-east) and Bunde (north-east). The nearest city is Winschoten.

The municipality contains the villages Bellingwolde, Blijham, Oudeschans, Veelerveen, Vriescheloo, and Wedde. It also contains the hamlets Den Ham, Klein-Ulsda, Rhederbrug, and Wedderveer.{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.bellingwedde.nl/over-bellingwedde/ Over Bellingwedde] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425203016/http://www.bellingwedde.nl/over-bellingwedde |date=25 April 2013 }}, Municipality of Bellingwedde. Retrieved on 27 April 2014.

The north border of Bellingwedde follows the river Pekel Aa. The river Westerwoldse Aa crosses the east of Bellingwedde from south to north. The canal B.L. Tijdenskanaal, that unites the Mussel-Aa-kanaal and the Ruiten-Aa-kanaal in the south, crosses the west of Bellingwedde from south to north.

The municipal building is located at the Hoofdweg in Wedde.[http://www.bellingwedde.nl/portal/contact_41877/ Contact] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429044455/http://www.bellingwedde.nl/portal/contact_41877/ |date=29 April 2013 }} (in Dutch), Gemeente Bellingwedde. Retrieved 13 June 2013.

A municipal government in the Netherlands consists of the executive college of the mayor and aldermen and the elected municipal council.

Janneke Snijder-Hazelhoff of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, appointed in 2013, was the last mayor of Bellingwedde.

The municipal council had 13 members. In the 2014 election, the last prior to merger, turnout was 57.57% with 4,191 valid votes. The results are shown in the table below:{{Cite web |date=19 March 2014|title=Bellingwedde municipal election 2014 |url=https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20140319/609194 |access-date=30 June 2024 |website=verkiezingsuitslagen.nl|language=nl}} A coalition was formed between the Labour Party (PvdA), the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). All three parties had one alderman in the college of mayor and aldermen. Although the Socialist Party got the most votes, it is not part of the coalition.[http://www.bellingwedde.nl/bestuur-organisatie/collegeleden_41561/ Collegeleden] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712093041/http://www.bellingwedde.nl/bestuur-organisatie/collegeleden_41561/ |date=12 July 2014 }} (in Dutch), Municipality of Bellingwedde. Retrieved 20 June 2016.

{{election table|title=2014 municipal election}}

|-style="background:#E9E9E9;"

!colspan="2" align="left"|Party

!Votes

!%

!Seats

|-

|style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Socialist Party (Netherlands)}}"|

|align="left"| Socialist Party

| 1,116

| 26.63

|align="center"| 3

|-

|style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Labour Party (Netherlands)}}"|

|align="left"| Labour Party

| 853

| 20.35

|align="center"| 3

|-

|style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Appeal}}"|

|align="left"|Christian Democratic Appeal

| 572

| 13.65

|align="center"| 2

|-

|style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy}}"|

|align="left"|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy

| 531

| 12.67

|align="center"| 2

|-

|style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|GreenLeft}}"|

|align="left"| GreenLeft

| 493

| 11.76

|align="center"| 1

|-

|

|align="left"| Plaatselijk Belang Bellingwedde

| 355

| 8.47

|align="center"| 1

|-

|

|align="left"| Westerwolde Lokaal

| 271

| 6.47

|align="center"| 1

|-

|-style="background:#E9E9E9;"

!colspan="2" align="left"|Total

!4,191

!100

!align="center"|13

|}

Bellingwedde was twinned with Rhede in Germany in 1979 and Nowogród Bobrzański in Poland in 2004.[http://www.bellingwedde.nl/over-bellingwedde/partnerschappen_41621/ Partnerschappen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522073228/http://www.bellingwedde.nl/over-bellingwedde/partnerschappen_41621/ |date=22 May 2013 }} (in Dutch), Gemeente Bellingwedde. Retrieved 13 June 2013.[http://www.sonntags-report.de/cms/front_content.php?idcat=2&idart=327 Nachbarn und Freunde] (in German), SonntagsReport, 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2013.[http://www.nowogrodbobrz.pl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69&Itemid=109 Gminy partnerskie] (in Polish), Gmina Nowogród Bobrzański. Retrieved 13 June 2013.

{{Historical populations

|1970|8,871

|1975|8,885

|1980|9,429

|1985|9,380

|1990|9,416

|1995|9,476

|2000|9,549

|2005|9,694

|2010|9,261

|2015|9,154

|source = Statistics Netherlands[http://statline.cbs.nl/Statweb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=37259ned&D1=0&D2=0&D3=187&D4=8-54&HD=160619-2121&HDR=G3,G1&STB=G2,T Bevolkingsontwikkeling; levendgeborenen, overledenen en migratie per regio] (in Dutch), Statistics Netherlands, 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2016.[http://statline.cbs.nl/Statweb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=83220ned&D1=0,4-32&D2=19&HD=160619-2132&HDR=T&STB=G1 Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2015] (in Dutch), Statistics Netherlands, 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.

}}

Since 1968, when the municipality was established, Bellingwedde had a population between 8,561 and 9,748. In 2015, it had a population of 9,154 and a population density of {{convert|84|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on}}.

File:Museum de Oude Wolden 3.jpg in Bellingwolde]]

File:Wedderborg te Wedde 01.JPG in Wedde]]

Two villages have a state protected village area ({{langx|nl|beschermd dorpsgezicht}}), Oudeschans since 1991 and Bellingwolde since 2009.[http://www.cultureelerfgoed.nl/sites/default/files/u6/3.2.1%20Overzicht%20van%20aangewezen%20en%20in%20procedure%20zijnde%20stads-%20en%20dorpsgezichten%20def.pdf Overzicht van aangewezen en in procedure zijnde stads- en dorpsgezichten] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301180606/http://www.cultureelerfgoed.nl/sites/default/files/u6/3.2.1%20Overzicht%20van%20aangewezen%20en%20in%20procedure%20zijnde%20stads-%20en%20dorpsgezichten%20def.pdf |date=1 March 2014 }} (in Dutch), Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2014.

There are two museums in Bellingwedde.[http://www.bellingwedde.nl/over-bellingwedde/musea-en-monumenten_41625/ Musea en monumenten] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712084944/http://www.bellingwedde.nl/over-bellingwedde/musea-en-monumenten_41625/ |date=12 July 2014 }} (in Dutch), Gemeenste Bellingwedde. Retrieved 11 January 2014. Museum de Oude Wolden in Bellingwolde is a regional museum about the art and history of Oldambt and Westerwolde. It has temporary exhibitions and a permanent exhibition with paintings of Lodewijk Bruckman from the municipal collection of Bellingwedde.[http://museumdeoudewolden.nl/programma Programma] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115121155/http://museumdeoudewolden.nl/programma |date=15 January 2014 }} (in Dutch), Museum de Oude Wolden. Retrieved 11 January 2014. Vestingmuseum Oudeschans in Oudeschans is a history museum about the fortification of Oudeschans. It has a collection of archaeological findings from the 17th and 18th century on display.[http://www.vesting-oudeschans.nl/Vestingmuseum.html Vestingmuseum] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112001748/http://www.vesting-oudeschans.nl/Vestingmuseum.html |date=12 January 2014 }} (in Dutch), Vesting Oudeschans. Retrieved 11 January 2014.

There are five windmills in the municipality: De Korenbloem in Vriescheloo,[https://web.archive.org/web/20141029210431/http://monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl/php/main.php?cAction=show&cOBJnr=8924 Monumentnummer: 8924 - De Korenbloem] (in Dutch), Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed. Retrieved 9 May 2014. Niemans Molen in Veelerveen,[https://archive.today/20140427194709/http://monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl/php/main.php?cAction=show&cOBJnr=8921 Monumentnummer: 8921] (in Dutch), Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed. Retrieved 9 May 2014. Spinnenkop Wedderveer in Wedderveer,[http://monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl/php/main.php?cAction=show&cOBJnr=388083 Monumentnummer: 388083 - Spinnekop] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029210438/http://monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl/php/main.php?cAction=show&cOBJnr=388083 |date=29 October 2014 }} (in Dutch), Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed. Retrieved 9 May 2014. Veldkamps Meuln in Bellingwolde,[http://monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl/php/main.php?cAction=show&cOBJnr=8906 Monumentnummer: 8906] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029210442/http://monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl/php/main.php?cAction=show&cOBJnr=8906 |date=29 October 2014 }} (in Dutch), Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed. Retrieved 9 May 2014. and Weddermarke in Wedde.[http://monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl/php/main.php?cAction=show&cOBJnr=8930 Monumentnummer: 8930] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029210435/http://monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl/php/main.php?cAction=show&cOBJnr=8930 |date=29 October 2014 }} (in Dutch), Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed. Retrieved 9 May 2014.

The Wedderborg is a borg, a type of castle from the province of Groningen, in Wedde. The building has 14th, 15th, and 16th-century elements and is currently used as a hotel and restaurant.[http://monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl/php/monument_pdf.php?OBJnr=8925 Monumentnummer: 8925] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225202551/http://monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl/php/monument_pdf.php?OBJnr=8925 |date=25 February 2014 }} (in Dutch), Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2014.[http://www.burchtwedde.nl/Actueel%20afbeeldingen/burchtboekje%202e%20druk.pdf Burch Wedde] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202101816/http://www.burchtwedde.nl/Actueel%20afbeeldingen/burchtboekje%202e%20druk.pdf |date=2 February 2014 }} (in Dutch), Stichting De Burcht Wedde. Retrieved 7 February 2014.

File:Kaart Provinciale weg 368.png in the province of Groningen]]

There are no highways in Bellingwedde. The nearest highway is the A7 (E22) directly north of the municipality and which is connected to Groningen in the west and Leer (Germany) in the east; its nearest access point is exit 48 (Oudeschans).

There are four provincial roads in the municipality. In the northwest, the N367 connects the municipality to Winschoten and Oude and Nieuwe Pekela. The N368 runs from northwest to southwest, connects Blijham via Wedde to Vlagtwedde, and also connects to the other three major roads. The N969 runs from west to southeast and connects Blijham via Bellingwolde and Rhederbrug to Rhede in Germany. And the N973 runs from southwest to the center and connects Wedde via Vriescheloo to Bellingwolde.

There are also no railways in Bellingwedde. The nearest railway stations are Winschoten and Bad Nieuweschans on the Harlingen–Nieuweschans railway just north of Bellingwedde. The railway is connected to the Groningen railway station and the rest of the Dutch railway network in the west and to the Leer railway station and the German railway network in the east.

The bus lines passing through Bellingwedde are exploited by Qbuzz (places in Bellingwedde are in italics):[http://www.bellingwedde.nl/actueel/nieuws_41583/item/dienstregeling-openbaar-vervoer-2013_10201.html Dienstregeling Openbaar Vervoer 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129020714/http://www.bellingwedde.nl/actueel/nieuws_41583/item/dienstregeling-openbaar-vervoer-2013_10201.html |date=29 November 2014 }} (in Dutch), Municipality of Bellingwedde, 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2014.[https://ovnieuwsuitgroningen.wordpress.com/dienstregeling-2014-bus/ Dienstregeling 2014 Bus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217140754/http://ovnieuwsuitgroningen.wordpress.com/dienstregeling-2014-bus/ |date=17 December 2014 }} (in Dutch), OV Nieuws uit Groningen. Retrieved 15 November 2014.[http://www.ovbureau.nl/publish/library/321/memo_vastgestelde_dienstregeling_2015_2.pdf Memo Vastgestelde dienstregeling 2015] (in Dutch), OV-bureau Groningen Drenthe, 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.

• Line 11: Winschoten – Blijham – Wedderveer – Wedde – Veele – Vlagtwedde – Bourtange[http://wiki.ovinnederland.nl/wiki/Lijn_11_Winschoten_Station_-_Bourtange_De_Vesting Lijn 11 Winschoten Station - Bourtange De Vesting] (in Dutch), OV in Nederland.nl, 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
• Line 12: Winschoten – Blijham – Bellingwolde – Blijham – Winschoten[http://wiki.ovinnederland.nl/wiki/Lijn_12_Ringlijn_Winschoten_Station_-_Bellingwolde Lijn 12 Ringlijn Winschoten Station - Bellingwolde] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129050606/http://wiki.ovinnederland.nl/wiki/Lijn_12_Ringlijn_Winschoten_Station_-_Bellingwolde |date=29 November 2014 }} (in Dutch), OV in Nederland.nl, 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
• Line 14: Stadskanaal – Alteveer – Tange – Onstwedde – Barlage – Smeerling – Vlagtwedde – Veele – Wedde – Wedderveer – Blijham – Winschoten[http://wiki.ovinnederland.nl/wiki/Lijn_14_Stadskanaal_Busstation_-_Winschoten_Station Lijn 14 Stadskanaal Busstation - Winschoten Station] (in Dutch), OV in Nederland.nl, 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
• Line 811: Bad Nieuweschans – Klein-Ulsda – Oudeschans – Bellingwolde – Vriescheloo – Veelerveen – Vlagtwedde[http://wiki.ovinnederland.nl/wiki/Lijn_811_Bad_Nieuweschans_Busstation_-_Vlagtwedde_Marke Lijn 811 Bad Nieuweschans Busstation - Vlagtwedde Marke] (in Dutch), OV in Nederland.nl, 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.

There are four preschools, seven primary schools, and one secondary school in Bellingwedde.[https://dloket.bellingwedde.nl/loket/producten-en-diensten/kinderopvang Kinderopvang] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811140249/https://dloket.bellingwedde.nl/loket/producten-en-diensten/kinderopvang |date=11 August 2016 }} (in Dutch), Municipality of Bellingwedde. Retrieved 20 Jun 2016.[https://dloket.bellingwedde.nl/loket/producten-en-diensten/basisonderwijs Basisonderwijs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201210930/https://dloket.bellingwedde.nl/loket/producten-en-diensten/basisonderwijs |date=1 February 2014 }} (in Dutch), Municipality of Bellingwedde. Retrieved 20 Jun 2016.[https://dloket.bellingwedde.nl/loket/producten-en-diensten/voortgezet-onderwijs Voortgezet onderwijs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201210934/https://dloket.bellingwedde.nl/loket/producten-en-diensten/voortgezet-onderwijs |date=1 February 2014 }} (in Dutch), Municipality of Bellingwedde. Retrieved 20 Jun 2016. There are no institutes of tertiary education in the municipality.

Het Streekblad is a free door-to-door weekly newspaper in the municipalities of Bellingwedde, Oldambt, and Pekela.[http://www.hetstreekblad.nl/bezorgklachten/ Bezorgklachten] (in Dutch), Het Streekblad. Retrieved 28 December 2015. Dagblad van het Noorden is a daily newspaper in the northern provinces of the Netherlands.

Radio Westerwolde is a radio channel in the municipalities of Bellingwedde, Pekela, and Vlagtwedde.[http://www.westerwoldeactueel.nl/over-ons/ Over ons] (in Dutch), Westerwoldeactueel.nl. Retrieved 28 December 2015.Arjan Brondijk, "[http://www.hetstreekblad.nl/evenementen/24990/twintig-jaar-radio-westerwold-terugblikken-en-bluesfeest/ Twintig jaar Radio Westerwolde: terugblikken en bluesfeest]" (in Dutch), Het Streekblad, 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2015.

• Jan Mulder (born 1945 in Bellingwolde), footballer, writer, and commentator

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Bellingwedde}}

• {{Official website}} (in Dutch)

{{Geographic location

|title = Neighbouring municipalities

|Centre = Bellingwedde

|North = Oldambt

|Northeast = Bunde (DE-NI)

|Southeast = Rhede (DE-NI)

|South = Vlagtwedde

|Southwest = Stadskanaal

|West = Pekela

}}

{{Dutch municipality Bellingwedde}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Westerwolde (municipality)

Category:Former municipalities of Groningen (province)

Category:Municipalities of the Netherlands disestablished in 2018