Winschoterzijl | |
|---|---|
Former hamlet | |
_01.jpg) Winschoterzijl (2019) | |
  Winschoterzijl Location in the province ofGroningen in theNetherlands | |
| Coordinates:53°08′38″N7°04′50″E / 53.14385°N 7.08066°E /53.14385; 7.08066 | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | Groningen |
| Municipality | Oldambt |
| Population (1993)[1] | |
• Total | 0 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Winschoterzijl is a former hamlet in the municipality ofOldambt in the northeast of theNetherlands. It was also asconce, and is still alock. The village was settled byLutheran refugees fromEast Frisia during theThirty Years' War (1618–1648). In 1992, Winschoterzijl was demolished during the widening of thePekel A.
In 1593, alock was built near the confluence of the riversRensel [nl] andPekel A.[2] In 1608, the river from theDollart to Winschoterzijl was canalised and widened to 30 feet as the Nieuwediep (now:Winschoterdiep).[3] In 1628, asconce (fortification) was constructed at Winschoterzijl to protect theProvince of Groningen from enemy attack.[4]
In nearbyEast Frisia, a religious war fought as part of theThirty Years' War (1618–1648).Lutheran refugees settled in Winschoterzijl, because the area aroundWinschoten was not governed by thecity of Groningen which did not accept refugees, but was a domain of thePrinces of Orange who allowed Lutherans.[1]
On 7 September 1672, the army ofMünster attacked Groningen, and managed to take Winschoterzijl and the city of Winschoten. TheDutch States Army launched a counter-attack, and the army of Münster was forced to retreat. Winschoterzijl was liberated several days later.[5]
In 1695, a Lutheran church was built in Winschoterzijl, and inaugurated in 1696.[6] On 1 April 1753,Catholics were given permission to establish a church in Winschoterzijl. Duringmass they were attacked by several hundred farmers and beaten up.[2]
_10.jpg)
In 1804, two windmills were built in Winschoterzijl aswindpumps.De Olde Molen, one of the windmills burned down in 1814, and was rebuilt in 1815, and has been relocated toPalm Beach, Aruba.[7]
Winschoterzijl remained a small village, and in 1820s a decision was taken to move the church to Winschoten. In 1836, the church was disassembled and rebuilt in Winschoten.[1] At the 1840 census, the population was 69 people spread over the municipalitiesWedde,Beerta and Winschoten. Around 1870, the Van Gogh bridge was constructed. The origin of the name of the bridge is unclear.[1][2]
A decision was taken to widen the Pekel A.[2] The last house in Winschoterzijl was demolished in 1992, the Van Gogh bridge was moved to Winschoten near theMcDonald's, and the hamlet was officially disestablished.[1]
_02.jpg)
Thelock is still present and called Winschoterzijl.[8] Even though the hamlet has been disestablished, there are a couple of farms left. In 2013, the municipality ofBellingwedde placed a city limits sign at the remaining part of Winschoterzijl in their municipality. There is also a street sign in Winschoten giving directions to Winschoterzijl, however there is no sign to inform you that you've reached the hamlet.[2] One of the farms is named Landgoed Winschoterzijl, and offers a camping.[9]
Media related toWinschoterzijl at Wikimedia Commons