Musselkanaal
{{Infobox settlement
| settlement_type = Town
| name = Musselkanaal
| image_skyline = File:Musselkanaal, kerk3 foto2 2011-05-09 14.05.JPG
| image_caption = Church in Musselkanaal (2011)
| imagesize =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Netherlands
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Groningen
| subdivision_type2 = Municipality
| subdivision_name2 = Stadskanaal
| area_total_km2 = 11.56
| 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=28 February 2022}}
| population_total = 7,130
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_density_km2 = auto
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 9581
| area_code = 0599
| elevation_footnotes = {{cite web |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |title = Postcodetool for 9581AA |language = nl |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis |access-date = 28 February 2022}}
| elevation_m = 10
| coordinates = {{coord|52.9293|7.0192|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = Netherlands Groningen#Netherlands
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_mapsize = 250
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the province of Groningen in the Netherlands
}}
Musselkanaal (also: Stads-Musselkanaal; Gronings: Muzzelknoal) is a town in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Stadskanaal. It was established by the city of Groningen in the 1840s to exploit the peat. It used to be part of the municipality of Onstwedde, but was merged into Stadskanaal in 1968.
History
The Bourtange moor was located in the south-east of Groningen. It was a raised bog with few inhabitants. Around 1600, corporations started to exploit the peat. In 1635, the city of Groningen took control, and established the {{ill|Groninger Peat Colonies|nl|Groninger Veenkoloniën}}, as a colony.{{cite web|url=http://landschapsgeschiedenis.nl/deelgebieden/21-Oude_Veenkolonien.html |title=Oude Veenkoloniën |website=Landschap Geschiedenis |access-date=28 February 2022|language=nl}}{{cite book|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/boeken/view?identifier=MMKB24:079874000:00018&query=Winschoterzijl&coll=boeken&rowid=10 |title=Uit Pekela's verleden |last1=Bosgra| first1=W.H.|year=1930 |location=Oude Pekela |publisher=Feringa |language=nl|page=14 |access-date=28 February 2022}} The colony had advanced to Stadskanaal where it ended due to a border conflict with the province of Drenthe.{{cite book|url=https://dbnl.org/tekst/sten009monu04_01/sten009monu04_01_0074.php |title=Musselkanaal |author=Redmer Alma |year=1998 |page=167 |publisher=Waanders Uitgevers |location=Zwolle |isbn=90 400 9258 3 |language=nl |access-date=28 February 2022}} In 1615, the border had been defined by the Semslinie, and the village and monastery of Ter Apel was assigned to Drenthe. In 1817, the line was modified with the so-called Koningsraai which assigned Ter Apel to Groningen.{{cite web|url=https://www.geheugenvandrenthe.nl/semslinie |title=Semslinie |website=Geheugen van Drenthe |access-date=28 February 2022 |language=nl}}
In 1819, Groningen started extending the {{ill|Stadskanaal (canal)|nl|Stadskanaal (kanaal)|lt=Stadskanaal}} in a south-eastern direction close to the provincial border. The canal was initially called Stads-Musselkanaal and contains two bends due to the Koningsraai. In 1850, the canal was renamed {{ill|Musselkanaal (canal)|nl|Musselkanaal (kanaal)|lt=Musselkanaal}}. The village was named after the canal.{{cite web|url=https://plaatsengids.nl/musselkanaal |title=Musselkanaal |website=Plaatsengids |access-date=28 February 2022 |language=nl}} Musselkanaal is a linear settlement, and contains five side-canals along which houses were built. There is a large park and sports ground in the south of the town. The Horstenerbos, a forest area, is located on the northern side.{{cite web|url=http://ruimtelijkeplannen.stadskanaal.nl/plannen/NL.IMRO.0037.BV1707-/NL.IMRO.0037.BV1707-vs01/t_NL.IMRO.0037.BV1707-vs01.html |title=Musselkanaal |website=Stadskanaal Noord en Musselkanaal |access-date=28 February 2022 |language=nl}}
The peat extraction resulted in an immigration from neighbouring Germany. Many of the immigrants were Catholics, and in 1843, a Catholic church was built in Zandberg. In 1903, a parish was established in Musselkanaal. It used to have a railway line and train station. In 1955, the line closed for passengers, and for goods in 1990. In 1992, the section Veendam–Stadskanaal–Musselkanaal was bought by {{ill|Stadskanaal Rail|nl|Stichting Stadskanaal Rail|lt=STAR}} which operates a museum line with steam trains.{{cite web|url=http://www.nols-maatschappij.info/Exploitanten/STAR-museum.htm |title=Museumspoorlijn STAR, 1992-heden |website=NOLS-maatschappij |access-date=28 February 2022 |language=nl}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stadskanaalrail.nl/geschiedenis/ |title=Geschiedenis |website=Stadskanaal Rail |access-date=28 February 2022 |language=nl}} The town used to be part of the municipality of Onstwedde, but was merged into Stadskanaal in 1968.
Notable people
- Jannes Munneke (born 1949), a rower who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics{{cite news|url=https://dekrantvantynaarlo.nl/derde-helft-week-29-2013/ |title=DERDE HELFT – week 29 – 2013 |website=De Krant van Tynaarlo |access-date=28 February 2022 |language=nl}}
- Sienie Strikwerda (1921–2013), educator, feminist and anti–nuclear weapons activist{{cite web|url=http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/Klinken |title=Klinken, Geesiena Jacoba van (1921-2013) |website=Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland |author=Frans Groot |year=2017 |access-date=28 February 2022 |language=nl}}
Gallery
File:Musselkanaal IJzeren-Klap.JPG|De IJzeren Klap (bridge)
File:Kerk Kerkstraat Musselkanaal2.jpg|Protestant church
File:Overzicht_ophaalbrug_met_schuifsluis_-_Musselkanaal_-_20532379_-_RCE.jpg|The fifth lock
File:Valthermond spoor 02.jpg|Unused railway line (2014)
References
{{Dutch municipality Stadskanaal}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Commons category|position=left}}