Westhoek, Friesland

Village in Friesland, Netherlands

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Coat of arms

53°16′29″N 5°34′11″E / 53.2748°N 5.5697°E / 53.2748; 5.5697CountryNetherlandsProvinceFrieslandMunicipalityWaadhoekeArea

^[1]

• Total3.87 km² (1.49 sq mi)Elevation

^[2]

1.3 m (4.3 ft)Population

(2021)^[1]

• Total255 • Density66/km² (170/sq mi)Postal code

9075^[1]

Dialing code0518

Westhoek (Bildts: De Westhoek) is a village in Waadhoeke in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. It had a population of approximately 255 in 2021.^[1]

History

Westhoek (western corner) is the western part of the Oudebildtdijk, which is the longest local road of the Netherlands with a length of 14 kilometres (8.7 mi).^[3] Westhoek is considered outside of the build-up area, however it does have place name signs and a 30 km/h speed limit.^[3] The dike was built in 1505 and het Bildt was poldered which became the last grietenij (predecessor of municipality) of Friesland. Around 1600, a new dike was constructed, and the old dike turned into a linear settlement.^[4]

Around 1960, Westhoek was planned to be demolished, because many of the houses and farms were in bad conditions or derelict, and were not connected to the sewage system, however tiny adverts were placed in the major daily newspapers by the slumlords offering cheap houses, Most buildings were quickly sold and subsequently restored.^[3]

Before 2018, the village was part of het Bildt municipality and before 1991 Westhoek was not a village but a hamlet which was part of the village Sint Jacobiparochie.^[3]

Gallery

Farm in Westhoek
Farm in Westhoek
House in Westhoek
Farm Leye Hoeve

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
^ "Postcodetool for 9075PA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Westhoek en Oosthoek". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 April 2022.
^ "Westhoek". Friesland Wonderland (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 April 2022.