Niekerk is a village in
Westerkwartier
The Westerkwartier (; en, Western Quarter) is a historical region in the Dutch province of Groningen, at the border with the provinces of Drenthe and Friesland. In the past the area was part of the historical region of Frisia. The West Frisi ...
municipality also in the Dutch province of Groningen. It had a population of around 1,365 in 2021.
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
Oldekerk is a village in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Westerkwartier, about 15 km west of the city of Groningen.
Oldekerk was a separate municipality until 1990, when it was merged with Grootegast.
...
.
Niekerk is a road village which developed on a sandy ridge in a
raised bog
Raised bogs, also called ombrotrophic bogs, are acidic, wet habitats that are poor in mineral salts and are home to flora and fauna that can cope with such extreme conditions. Raised bogs, unlike fens, are exclusively fed by precipitation ( ombro ...
. During the Late Middle Ages, it started to overshadow neighbouring Oldekerk.
The Dutch 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.
Niekerk was home to 440 people in 1840.
It used to be part of the municipality of
Oldekerk
Oldekerk is a village in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Westerkwartier, about 15 km west of the city of Groningen.
Oldekerk was a separate municipality until 1990, when it was merged with Grootegast.
...
. In 1990, it became part of
Grootegast
Grootegast (; fy, Gruttegast) is a village and former municipality in the northeastern Netherlands. It is the sister city of Kingston, Tasmania. The municipality was merged into the municipality of Westerkwartier on 1 January 2019.
Geography
...
and was merged into
Westerkwartier
The Westerkwartier (; en, Western Quarter) is a historical region in the Dutch province of Groningen, at the border with the provinces of Drenthe and Friesland. In the past the area was part of the historical region of Frisia. The West Frisi ...
in 2019.
Gallery
File:Niekerk - gemeentehuis Oldekerk.jpg, Former town hall
File:Niekerk - verenigingsgebouw.jpg, House in Niekerk
File:Niekerk- haventje met voormalig gemaal.jpg, Harbour with former pumping station
File:Niekerk - hoofdmeesterswoning Welgelegen.jpg, School master's house
References
Westerkwartier (municipality)
Populated places in Groningen (province)
{{Groningen-geo-stub