Bellingwolde

Bellingwolde is a village with a population of 2,400 people in the municipality Bellingwedde in the Netherlands. It is situated in the southeast of the region Oldambt, in the north of the region Westerwolde, and in the east of the province Groningen, at the border with Germany.The settlement dates back to the 11th century. It flooded multiple times until the 16th century. In the 18th and 19th century agriculture prospered and large farmhouses were built. It was a separate municipality until it merged with Wedde into Bellingwedde in 1968.Bellingwolde has a state protected village area with several monumental farmhouses. Other attractions are the Magnus Church, the Law House, Veldkamp's Mill, and Museum de Oude Wolden. There are four primary schools and a secondary school in the village.HistoryThe origins of Bellingwolde, which was built on a sand ridge dividing the clay and peat ground, are in the 11th century.The settlement flooded many times until parts of the Dollard were impoldered in the 16th century.The agricultural settlement started to prosper in the 18th century. Large farmhouses were built in the 19th century.