Leek, Netherlands

Leek
Municipality
Nienoord castle
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Groningen
Coordinates: 53°10′N 6°23′E / 53.167°N 6.383°ECoordinates: 53°10′N 6°23′E / 53.167°N 6.383°E
Country	Netherlands
Province	Groningen
Government[1]
• Body	Municipal council
• Mayor	Berend Hoekstra (VVD)
Area[2]
• Total	64.28 km^2 (24.82 sq mi)
• Land	63.33 km^2 (24.45 sq mi)
• Water	0.95 km^2 (0.37 sq mi)
Elevation[3]	2 m (7 ft)
Population (May 2014)[4]
• Total	19,626
• Density	310/km^2 (800/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Leker
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode	9350–9359, 9810–9819, 9827–9829
Area code	050, 0594
Website	leek.nl

Duch topographic map of the municipality of Leek, Groningen, as per June 2015

Leek (Dutch pronunciation: [leːk]; Gronings: De Laik; West Frisian: De Like) is a municipality and a village in the Groningen province in the northeastern Netherlands, bordering on the Drenthe and Fryslân provinces.

The village 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 "The 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, called "Het Leekstermeer" (also called Zulthemeer), with recreational facilities. Actually, the lake is in another municipality and in another province.

Attractions in the Leek Municipality

Nienoord before its destruction in 1850

Church of Midwolde

Church of Tolbert

Tomb monument of Carel Hieronymus van In, and Knyphuizen

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.

In this manor-house is situated the National Carriage Museum. 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, the nobleman 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 Midwolda is a tomb monument sculpted by Rombout Verhulst. Rombout Verhulst also decorated tomb of Michiel de Ruyter in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam.

Population centres

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

References

1. "Het college van burgemeester en wethouders" [The board of mayor and aldermen] (in Dutch). Gemeente Leek. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
2. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten" [Key figures for neighbourhoods]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
3. "Postcodetool for 9351BJ". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
4. "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.

External links

• Official website
• Carriage museum (Dutch & English)
• Media related to Leek, Groningen at Wikimedia Commons