Wedde

Most of Westerwolde was a raised bog with few inhabitants, however it formed a natural border between Groningen, East Frisia and the Prince-Bishopric of Münster, and therefore changed ownership many times during its history.[5]

Wedde was located on the road between Groningen and Germany, and dates from the 12th century. The Westerwoldsche Aa flows through the village.[6] In 1316, Westerwolde became part of Münster.[7] In 1362, Egge I Addinga was given the heerlijkheid Westerwolde by the bishop of Münster,[6] and started constructing the Wedderborg, a castle, in Wedde around 1370.[8]

In 1619, Westerwolde was purchased by the city of Groningen, and Wedde remained subordinate to the city until 1798.[6] It remained a separate municipality until 1968, when it was merged with Bellingwolde to form Bellingwedde.[9] The new name Bellingwedde is a contraction of Bellingwolde and Wedde. In 2018, it became part of the new municipality of Westerwolde.[10]

Geselberg (literally: Scourge Mountain) is a hill near Wedde. Between 1587 and 1597, witch trials were held at Wedderborg, and 21 women and 1 man were burned at the stake at Geselberg.[11][12] In 1597, witch trials were outlawed in the Dutch Republic,[8] and Geselberg was only used for hangings and flagellation.[11]

Wedde is located centeṛ̣ west of the municipality Westerwolde, in the east of the province Groningen, in the northeast of the Netherlands. Wedde is an administrative neighbourhood (Dutch: buurt) in the district (Dutch: wijk) of Blijham.

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  Wedderborg
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  Painting of the bridge at Wedde by Assuerus Quaestius (1831)
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  Geselberg
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  Weddermarke windmill