Leek, Netherlands

Leek (Dutch: [leːk] ⓘ; Gronings: De Laik; West Frisian: De Like) is a village and former municipality in Groningen province in the northeastern Netherlands. The municipality, which bordered the Drenthe and Friesland provinces, was merged into the municipality of Westerkwartier on 1 January 2019.[4]

Leek
De Laik (Gronings)
Town and former municipality
Nienoord castle
Nienoord castle
Flag of Leek
Flag
Coat of arms of Leek
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Leek in a municipal map of Groningen
Location in Groningen
Leek is located in Groningen (province)
Leek
Leek
Location in the province of Groningen in the Netherlands
Leek is located in Netherlands
Leek
Leek
Leek (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 53°10′N 6°23′E
Country Netherlands
Province Groningen
Municipality Westerkwartier
Merged2019
Area
[1]
 • Total6.17 km2 (2.38 sq mi)
Elevation
[2]
2 m (7 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total11,175
 • Density1,800/km2 (4,700/sq mi)
DemonymLeekster
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
9350–9351[1]
Area code0594[3]
Duch topographic map of the municipality of Leek, Groningen, as per June 2015

The village of Leek is approximately 20 km west of Groningen (city) on the A7 (E22) highway.

The village grew around a fortification that was constructed here during the Eighty Years' War with Spain. The name 'Leek' was derived from a brook, the "Leke". The town is sometimes also called "De Leek". In Dutch, the people from Leek are called "Leeksters".

Every year around Pentecost there is a fair (Pinkstermarkt), drawing thousands of people from the area.

Near the village is a shallow lake, the Leekstermeer (also known as Zulthermeer), with recreational facilities, but the lake is in another municipality and in another province.

Attractions in the Leek Municipality
  • Nienoord before its destruction in 1850
    Nienoord before its destruction in 1850
  • Church of Midwolde
    Church of Midwolde
  • Tomb monument of Anna van Ewsum and Carel Hieronymus von In- und Knyphausen, in the church of Midwolde
    Tomb monument of Anna van Ewsum and Carel Hieronymus von In- und Knyphausen, in the church of Midwolde
  • Church of Tolbert
    Church of Tolbert

The main attraction in the village is the "Nienoord" estate. The estate was founded in 1508. After a destroying fire, a new manor-house was built in 1887. The gardens and the shell grotto were restored.

The National Carriage Museum is located in this manor-house. In 1958 the National Carriage Museum rented the house and gardens. The National Carriage Museum presents an overall view of the various types of carriages and sleighs from the 18th to the 20th century. The 250 coaches in the museum’s collection were used by farmers, the common man, noblemen and royalty.

In the estate is situated a recreation park (Family-park Nienoord) with model railways in several scales, including live steam.

In Tolbert and Midwolde are churches from the 12th century. The churches are built in the Romano-Gothic style. Typical for this style are the walls and gables of brick that are richly decorated with recesses and patterns of bricks.

In the church of Midwolde is a tomb monument sculpted by Rombout Verhulst. Rombout Verhulst also decorated the tomb of Michiel de Ruyter in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam.

Population centres

Enumatil, Leek, Lettelbert, Midwolde, Oostwold, Tolbert and Zevenhuizen.

References
  1. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  2. "Postcodetool for 9351BJ". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  3. "Postcode 9351 in Leek". Postcode bij adres (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  4. "Gemeentelijke indeling op 1 januari 2019". CBS (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 November 2019.
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