Wolvega
Town
St Francis Church
St Francis Church
Location in Weststellingwerf municipality
Location in Weststellingwerf municipality
Wolvega is located in Friesland
Wolvega
Wolvega
Location in the Netherlands
Wolvega is located in Netherlands
Wolvega
Wolvega
Wolvega (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 52°52′34″N 6°0′5″E / 52.87611°N 6.00139°E / 52.87611; 6.00139
CountryNetherlands Netherlands
ProvinceFriesland Friesland
MunicipalityWeststellingwerf Weststellingwerf
Area
[1]
 • Total13.19 km2 (5.09 sq mi)
Elevation
[2]
0.8 m (2.6 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total13,090
 • Density990/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Postal code
8470–8472[1]
Dialing code0561

Wolvega (Low German: Wolvege), (West Frisian: Wolvegea) is the largest town in the municipality of Weststellingwerf in the province of Friesland (Fryslan), in the Netherlands. It had a population of around 13,090 in 2021. Wolvega is the capital and largest town of the municipality.[3]

History

The village was first mentioned in 1218,[4][5] and means "settlement of Wolf (person)."[6] The Dutch Reformed church was built in 1646 using material from its medieval predecessor. The tower was rebuilt after a fire in 1894.[5]

Lycklama State was a stins built in the early 17th century. It was built as a fortified building even though advances in warfare had made the construction obsolete. In 1626, Rinco van Lycklama became grietman (predecessor of mayor/judge) of Stellingwerf-Westeinde. In 1736, it was in a dilapidated state and demolished.[7] The Catholic retirement home Huize Lycklama was later built in its place.[5]

Around 1820, the main road from Leeuwarden to Zwolle was constructed through Wolvega.[8] In 1835, Wolvega became the capital of the municipality of Weststellingwerf.[5] It was home to 1,202 people in 1840.[8] In 1868, the Wolvega railway station station opened.[8] During the 1950s, it became one of the industrial centre of Friesland, and started to develop into a town.[5]

Sights

The only remaining stins in Wolvega is Lindenoord which was built in 1780 in Louis XVI style. The estate used to organise horse races.[4] The races moved to Victoria Park which hosts the largest horse race of the Netherlands.[9]

There are two windmills in the town, De Gooyer and Windlust.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  2. ↑ "Postcodetool for 8471AA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  3. ↑ Villages – Weststellingwerf municipality (in Dutch)
  4. 1 2 "wolvega". Friesland Wonderland (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Ronald Stenvert & Sabine Broekhoven (2000). Oosterwolde (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90-400-9476-4. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "Wolvega – (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "Lycklamastins te Wolvega". Stinsen in Friesland (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 "Wolvega". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "Grootste Nederlandse paardenrace in Wolvega". Omrop Fryslan (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2022.

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