Weiwerd

Former village in Groningen, Netherlands

53°19′N 6°57′E / 53.317°N 6.950°E / 53.317; 6.950CountryNetherlandsProvinceGroningenMunicipalityEemsdeltaArea

^[1]

• Total0.12 km² (0.05 sq mi)Elevation

^[2]

0.5 m (1.6 ft)Population

(2021)^[1]

• Total0 • Density0.0/km² (0.0/sq mi)Postal code

9936^[1]

Dialing code0596

Weiwerd (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʋɛiʋərt]; Gronings: Waaiwerd [ˈʋɑːɪ̯ʋət]) is a former village in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is a part of the municipality of Eemsdelta, and lies about 27 km east of Groningen.^[3]

Formerly a farming community with its own church, school, and shops, the whole village was scheduled for demolition in the 1970s to allow the industrial area of Delfzijl harbour to be expand. Less than 10% of the original buildings are left. The school and the cemetery have remained. The terp (artificial living hill) was supposed to be excavated as well, however protests have prevented its destruction,^[4] and the terp is now a protected monument.^[5]

History

The village was first mentioned in the 10th or 11th century as UUahcuurð. The etymology is unclear.^[6] Weiwerd is a terp village from the start of our era. It has a radial structure and located near the Dollart.^[5]^[6]

In 1840, Weiwerd was home to 311 people. Prior to the demolition order, it was home to over 300 peoples. In 2015, the last two inhabitants left the village.^[4] Even though the village has no inhabitants,^[1] it still has place name signs.^[4]

Gallery

Aerial view of the village and images of its destruction
Derelict building
The empty fields of Weiwerd
Former school

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^ "Postcodetool for 9936AC". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^ ANWB Topografische Atlas Nederland, Topografische Dienst and ANWB, 2005.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Weiwerd". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Monumentnummer: 45306 te Farmsum". Dutch Monuments Register (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Weiwerd - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 April 2022.