Westergeast

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Westergeast

| native_name =

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| settlement_type = Village

| image_skyline = Hervormde kerk van Westergeest..JPG

| image_alt =

| image_caption = The Dutch Reformed church of Westergeast

| image_flag = Westergeast (Noardeast-Fryslân) vlag.svg

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| image_shield = Westergeast wapen.svg

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| image_map = Map NL Kollumerlân Westergeast.png

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Location in the former Kollumerland municipality

| pushpin_map = Netherlands Friesland#Netherlands

| pushpin_label_position = left

| pushpin_mapsize = 250

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Netherlands

| coordinates = {{coord|53|17|28|N|6|5|8|E|source:fywiki_region:NL_type:city|display=title}}

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| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Netherlands

| subdivision_type1 = Province

| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon|Friesland}} Friesland

| subdivision_type2 = Municipality

| subdivision_name2 = Noardeast-Fryslân

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| unit_pref = Metric

| area_footnotes =

| area_total_km2 = 9.83

| elevation_footnotes = {{cite web |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |title = Postcodetool for 9295KA |language = nl |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis |access-date = 1 April 2022 }}

| elevation_m = 0.2

| population_as_of = 2021

| 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 of Statistics |access-date=1 April 2022|quote=two entries}}

| population_total = 610

| population_density_km2 = auto

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| timezone = CET

| utc_offset = +1

| timezone_DST = CEST

| utc_offset_DST = +2

| postal_code_type = Postal code

| postal_code = 9295

| area_code_type = Dialing code

| area_code = 0511

| iso_code =

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}}

Westergeast ({{langx|nl|Westergeest}}, {{langx|nds|Westergaist}}) is a village in Noardeast-Fryslân in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. It had a population of around 621 as of January 2017.[https://www.kollumerland.nl/gemeente/feiten-en-cijfers_3721/item/inwonertal-en-info-2017_6145.html Inwonertal en info 2017] - Kollumerland Before 2019, the village was part of the Kollumerland en Nieuwkruisland municipality.

History

The village was first mentioned around 1333 as Ghaest.{{cite web|url=https://etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/westergeest |title=Westergeest - (geografische naam) |website=Etymologiebank |access-date=1 April 2022 |language=nl}} It is located on a slight hill (geast). The village uses west to distinguish itself with {{ill|Wygeast|nl|Wijgeest}}. The Dutch Reformed church dates from 1200. In 1807, the tower was lowered. The church was restored between 1954 and 1957.{{cite web|url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/sten009monu06_01/sten009monu06_01_0194.php |title=Westergeest |author=Ronald Stenvert & Sabine Broekhoven |year=2000 |publisher=Waanders |location=Zwolle |isbn=90 400 9476 4 |language=nl |access-date=1 April 2022}} Some of the stones from the tower were reused in a little woudhuisje (forest house) next to the church. The little house was demolished in 2018.{{cite news|url=https://frieschdagblad.nl/regio/Een-mooi-ensemble-verdwijnt-Uniek-woudhuis-in-Westergeest-tegen-de-vlakte-26789301.html |title=Een mooi ensemble verdwijnt: Uniek woudhuis in Westergeest tegen de vlakte |website=Friesch Dagblad |access-date=1 April 2022 |language=nl}}

In 1840, it was home to 263 people.{{cite web|url=https://www.plaatsengids.nl/westergeest |title=Westergeest |website=Plaatsengids |access-date=1 April 2022 |language=nl}} There is a restored windmill north of the village, De Beintemapoldermolen. It is a polder mill built in 1870. In 1950, a pumping station made the wind mill obsolete.{{cite web|url=https://www.molendatabase.nl/nederland/molen.php?nummer=148 |title=De Beintemapoldermolen |website=Molen database |access-date=1 April 2022 |language=nl}}

The village's official name was changed from Westergeest to Westergeast in 2023.{{cite web |title=22 dorpen in Noardeast-Fryslân krijgen op 1 januari 2023 een nieuwe Friese naam |url=https://www.rtvnof.nl/22-dorpen-in-noardeast-fryslan-krijgen-op-1-januari-2023-een-nieuwe-friese-naam/595397/ |website=RTV NOF |date=10 December 2022 |language=nl |trans-title=22 villages in Noardeast-Fryslân will receive a new Frisian name on 1 January 2023 |access-date=7 April 2023}}{{cite web |title=Friese namen |url=https://namen.taalunie.org/friese-namen |website=Taalunie |language=nl |trans-title=Frisian names |access-date=7 April 2023}}

Gallery

File:Landschaft bei Westergeest (Gem. Noardeast-Fryslân).jpg|Landscape (Westergeast)

File:Eelke Meinertswei 14, Westergeest.jpg|House in Westergeast

File:Eelke Meinertswei 15 & 17, Westergeest.jpg|Street view

File:Eelke Meinertswei 8, Westergeest.jpg|Bed & Breakfast in Westergeast

References

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