Westergeast

Westergeast (Dutch: Westergeest, Low German: Westergaist) is a village in Noardeast-Fryslân in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. It has a population of around 621 in January 2017.[3] Before 2019, the village was part of the Kollumerland en Nieuwkruisland municipality.[4]

Westergeast
Village
The Dutch Reformed church of Westergeast
Flag
Coat of arms
Location in the former Kollumerland municipality
Westergeast
Location in the Netherlands
Westergeast
Westergeast (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 53°17′28″N 6°5′8″E
Country Netherlands
Province Friesland
MunicipalityNoardeast-Fryslân
Area
[1]
 • Total9.83 km2 (3.80 sq mi)
Elevation
[2]
0.2 m (0.7 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total610
 • Density62/km2 (160/sq mi)
Postal code
9295[1]
Dialing code0511

History

The village was first mentioned around 1333 as Ghaest.[5] It is located on a slight hill (geast). The village uses west to distinguish with Wygeast.[5] The Dutch Reformed church dates from 1200. In 1807, the tower was lowered. The church was restored between 1954 and 1957.[6] Some of the stones from the tower were reused in a little woudhuisje (forest house) next to the church. The little house was demolished in 2018.[7]

In 1840, it was home to 263 people.[4] There is a restored windmill north of the village, De Beintemapoldermolen. It is a polder mill built in 1870. In 1950, a pumping station made the wind mill obsolete.[8]

The village's official name was changed from Westergeest to Westergeast in 2023.[9][10]

  • Landscape (Westergeast)
  • House in Westergeast
  • Street view
  • Bed & Breakfast in Westergeast

References
  1. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 1 April 2022. two entries
  2. "Postcodetool for 9295KA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  3. Inwonertal en info 2017 - Kollumerland
  4. "Westergeest". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  5. "Westergeest - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  6. Ronald Stenvert & Sabine Broekhoven (2000). "Westergeest" (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90 400 9476 4. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  7. "Een mooi ensemble verdwijnt: Uniek woudhuis in Westergeest tegen de vlakte". Friesch Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  8. "De Beintemapoldermolen". Molen database (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  9. "22 dorpen in Noardeast-Fryslân krijgen op 1 januari 2023 een nieuwe Friese naam" [22 villages in Noardeast-Fryslân will receive a new Frisian name on 1 January 2023]. RTV NOF (in Dutch). 10 December 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  10. "Friese namen" [Frisian names]. Taalunie (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 April 2023.

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