Drenthe

Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.

History

Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands has always been a sparsely populated rural area, other parts of the Netherlands didn?t really see this ?territory? as a part that belonged to the rest of the Netherlands but more like ?wasteland?. This ?wasteland?, however, has been populated by people since prehistory, albeit by just a handful. Most tangible evidence of this are the dolmens (hunebedden) built around 3500 BC, 52 of the 54 dolmens in the Netherlands can be found in Drenthe, concentrated in the northeast of the province. Drenthe was first mentioned in a document from the year 820, it was called Pago Treanth (district Drenthe). In archives from ?Het Drents Archief? from 1024 to 1025 the ?county Drenthe? is mentioned.

Related Topics:
The Netherlands - Dolmens - 3500 BC - 820 - 1024 - 1025

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After long being subject to the bishops of Utrecht, Drenthe came under the control of Charles V in the 16th century. When the Republic of the Seven United Provinces was declared, Drenthe became part of it, although it did not gain provincial status until January 1, 1796.

Related Topics:
Bishop - Utrecht - Charles V - Republic of the Seven United Provinces - January 1 - 1796

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During the Second World War, the German occupiers built a concentration camp near the town of Westerbork, where Dutch Jews were imprisoned before transportation to other camps in Germany and Poland. The famous Jewish girl, Anne Frank was deported on the last train from Westerbork by the Germans.

Related Topics:
Second World War - Concentration camp - Westerbork - Jew - Jewish - Anne Frank - Germans

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