Hoogstede

Hoogstede is a community in the district of Grafschaft Bentheim in Lower Saxony.GeographyLocationHoogstede lies northwest of Nordhorn on the German-Dutch border. The Vechte flows through town, and its tributary, the Lee empties into it here. The community belongs to the Joint Community (Samtgemeinde) of Emlichheim, whose administrative seat is in the like-named community.Constituent communitiesThe community’s seven centres are Hoogstede, Kalle, Tinholt, Arkel, Bathorn, Scheerhorn and Berge.HistoryHoogstede’s history begins in 1821 when the Evangelical-Reformed parish’s chapel was moved from Arkel to Hoogstede. In 1859, the Catholic church was built, and by and by a population centre developed. In 1953, the Evangelical-Old Reformed church was built, and in 1961 the Lutheran church.Today, roughly 2,900 people live in Hoogstede and its outlying centres.ReligionHoogstede is home to four churches: Evangelical-Reformed Evangelical-Old Reformed Evangelical-Lutheran CatholicPoliticsMunicipal councilHoogstede’s council is made up of 13 councillors. CDU 10 seatsSPD 2 seatsFDP 1 seat(as of municipal election on 10 September 2006)