Beetsterzwaag

Beetsterzwaag Beetstersweach
Village
Beetsterzwaag church
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Opsterland municipality
Beetsterzwaag Location in the Netherlands Show map of Friesland Beetsterzwaag Beetsterzwaag (Netherlands) Show map of Netherlands
Coordinates: 53°03′40″N6°4′39″E / 53.06111°N 6.07750°E / 53.06111; 6.07750 Coordinates: 53°03′40″N6°4′39″E / 53.06111°N 6.07750°E / 53.06111; 6.07750
Country	Netherlands
Province	Friesland
Municipality	Opsterland
Area [1]
• Total	20.99 km2 (8.10 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	0.9 m (3.0 ft)
Population  (2021) [1]
• Total	3,685
• Density	180/km2 (450/sq mi)
Postal code	9244 [1]
Dialing code	0512

Beetsterzwaag (West Frisian : Beetstersweach) is a village in the municipality of Opsterland in the east of Friesland in the Netherlands. It had a population of around 3,485 in January 2017. ^[3] Beetsterzwaag is known for its estates and manor houses.

History

The village was first mentioned in 1315 as Suagh, and means "pasture with cattle belonging to Oud Beets  [ nl ]". ^[4] Beetsterzwaag developed on a sandy ridge from Oud Beets. In 1684, the village already contained four manor houses, and in the 19th century was described as "a kilometre of noble houses surrounded by parks and forests". ^[5]

The Dutch Reformed church was built between 1803 and 1804 and was enlarged in the 20th century. ^[5] Harinxma State was built in 1841 by grietman (mayor) van Harinxma thoe Slooten. It has a large park dating from 1845. It was modernised and extended in 1931. ^[6]

Lauswolt was bought in 1826 and turned into a manor house in 1868. It was enlarged many times, and in 1954 was transformed into a five-star hotel. ^[7] The restaurant had a Michelin Star between 2001 and 2006, and regained its star in 2020. ^[8]

Beetsterzwaag was home to 748 in 1840. ^[9] After World War II, Beetsterzwaag developed into a suburb of Drachten. ^[5]

Notable people

Its most famous inhabitant was the Dutch actor Rutger Hauer, who died at his home in the village on 19 July 2019. ^[10] The Dutch poet J. Slauerhoff lived there, who in May–July 1929 ran the practice of the local doctor, a temporary profession eternalized in a poem by J.C. Bloem printed in the national paper Het Vaderland  [ nl ]. ^[11] Beetsterzwaag is also the birthplace of Hilbert van der Duim, a speed skater active in the 1980s; Van der Duim was twice all-around World Champion, twice all-around European champion, and seven times Dutch champion. ^[12]

Gallery

• 
  Street view
• 
  Bakery in Beetsterzwaag
• 
  Nature near Beetsterzwaag
• 
  Hotel Lauswolt

References

1. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
2. "Postcodetool for 9244AA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
3. Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2017 - CBS Statline
4. "Beetsterzwaag - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2022.
5. Ronald Stenvert & Sabine Broekhoven (2000). "Beetsterzwaag" (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN   90 400 9476 4 . Retrieved 2 April 2022.
6. "Harinxma State". Stinsen in Friesland (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2022.
7. "Landgoed lauswolt". Lanterfanten (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2022.
8. "Restaurant de Heeren van Harinxma (Lauswolt) houdt Michelinster". Wielrennen Surhuisterveen (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2022.
9. "Beetsterzwaag". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2022.
10. "Rutger Hauer dead at age 75 after short illness". NL Times. July 24, 2019.
11. Bakker, Bert; Gerrit Borgers; Jan Hulsker; Cornelis Jan (Cees) Kelk; Cornelis Pieter (Kees) Lekkerkerker; Jurriaan Schrofer; Ellen Warmond; F.C. Terborgh (2008) [1980]. Schrijversprentenboek (in Dutch). Bezige Bij. p. 25.
12. "Duim, Hilbert van der". Encyclopedie Drenthe Online. Retrieved 24 February 2010.

External links

• Media related to Beetsterzwaag at Wikimedia Commons
• Beetsterzwaag