Tolbert is a town in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is part of the municipality of Westerkwartier and forms a single urban area with Leek.

Tolbert
Town
Former smithy in Tolbert
Former smithy in Tolbert
Tolbert is located in Groningen (province)
Tolbert
Tolbert
Location in province of Groningen in the Netherlands
Tolbert is located in Netherlands
Tolbert
Tolbert
Tolbert (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 53°10′13″N 6°21′45″E / 53.1703°N 6.3624°E / 53.1703; 6.3624
Country Netherlands
Province Groningen
Municipality Westerkwartier
Area
 • Total12.74 km2 (4.92 sq mi)
Elevation4 m (13 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total4,475
 • Density350/km2 (910/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
9356
Dialing code0594

History edit

Tolbert is located in the Vredewold [nl] region. The area was settled during the 10th and 11th century.[3] It was first mentioned in 1479 as Oldebert. The name is a contraction of het (the definite article) ol(de) (old) and bert (village), and literally means "the old village".[4] The church is from the 17th century, but contains 13th century parts.[5] The parish dates from the 14th century. In 1794, Tolbert bought a seat in the States of Groningen from Aduard,[6] and in 1795 was the seat of a municipality with Midwolde, Lettelbert and Oostwold. In 1795, it was home to 476 people.[7] By 1817, it was part of the municipality of Leek.[8]

Tolbert was mainly an agricultural community, however the industrialisation of nearby Leek attracted people to the village.[3] In 1907, there was a malaria outbreak in Tolbert.[9] After World War II, Tolbert and Leek became a single urban area, however it remained a separate entity. In 2019, it became part of the municipality of Westerkwartier.[3]

Sports edit

In 1950, a street circuit for motorcycle racing was set-up in the village. In 1956, it was considered too dangerous and was no longer permitted. In 1970, permission was granted outside the build-up area.[3] In 1984, Jack Middelburg was killed during a race.[10] In 2008, the races ended, because the organisation could not finance the required safety investments.[11]

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Postcodetool for 9356AA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Tolbert". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Tolbert". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  5. ^ Redmer Alma (1998). Leek (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders Uitgevers. p. 153. ISBN 90 400 9258 3. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  6. ^ P.J. Blok and S. Muller (1923). Geschiedkundige atlas van Nederland part II (in Dutch). The Hague: Nijhoff. p. 24. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  7. ^ Verdeling van de provincie van Stad en Lande (in Dutch). Groningen: Jan Oomkens. 1796. p. 36. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Benoemingen". Groninger courant (in Dutch). 3 January 1817. Retrieved 7 March 2022. Probably reorganised during the occupation by Napoleon
  9. ^ Heinrich Joseph Maria Schade (1909). Malaria in Noord-Nederland (Thesis) (in Dutch). Groningen: De Waal. p. 4. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Middelburg bezwijkt aan verwondingen" (in Dutch). 4 April 1984. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  11. ^ Jaap van Brummelen (15 April 2008). "Nooit meer CC races op circuit Tolbert". Dagblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 March 2022.

External links edit

  Media related to Tolbert at Wikimedia Commons