Niekerk, Westerkwartier

Niekerk
Village
Niekerk church
Niekerk Location of the village in the province of Groningen Show map of Groningen (province) Niekerk Niekerk (Netherlands) Show map of Netherlands
Coordinates: 53°13′N 6°21′E
Country	Netherlands
Province	Groningen
Municipality	Westerkwartier
Area [1]
• Total	1.03 km^2 (0.40 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	1,365
• Density	1,300/km^2 (3,400/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	9822
Dialing code	0594

Niekerk is a village in Westerkwartier municipality also in the Dutch province of Groningen. It had a population of around 1,365 in 2021.[1]

History

The village was first mentioned in 1392 as to der Nyerkerke, and means "new church". Nie- ("new") has been added to distinguish between Oldekerk.[2] Niekerk is a road village which developed on a sandy ridge in a raised bog. During the Late Middle Ages, it started to overshadow neighbouring Oldekerk.[3]

The Reformed church dates from around 1200. The tower was added in the 13th century. Between 1964 and 1967, it was restored, the plaster was removed and nave was returned to its original shape.[3]

Niekerk was home to 440 people in 1840.[4] It used to be part of the municipality of Oldekerk. In 1990, it became part of Grootegast and was merged into Westerkwartier in 2019.[4]

Gallery

• 
  Former town hall
• 
  House in Niekerk
• 
  Harbour with former pumping station
• 
  School master's house

References

1. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
2. "Niekerk - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 April 2022.
3. Ronald Stenvert & Redmer Alma (1998). "Niekerk" (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90 400 9258 3. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
4. "Niekerk (Westerkwartier)". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 April 2022.

External links

Media related to Niekerk (Westerkwartier) at Wikimedia Commons