Midden-Drenthe
Midden-Drenthe is a municipality in the northeastern Netherlands. The municipality was created in 1998, in a merger of the former municipalities of Beilen, Smilde, and Westerbork. Between 1998 and 2000, the name of the municipality was Middenveld.
Population centres
The village of Westerbork gives its name to the Westerbork deportation and concentration camp, located about 7 km north of the village, in the forests of Hooghalen.The Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope array was installed near the site of the camp in 1969.
Education
There are 16 primary schools in the municipality as of 2023.There are two secondary schools, both in Beilen:
- Dr. Nassau College
- CS Vincent van Gogh
Notable people
- Carry van Bruggen a Dutch writer
- Jacob Israël de Haan a Dutch-Jewish literary writer, jurist and journalist, killed by Haganah
- Jan Hartman a Dutch fascist and collaborator during WWII
- Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper the oldest person ever from the Netherlands
- Hans Heyting a Dutch poet, playwright, radio personality, children's book writer and painter
- Henk Koning a Dutch politician
- Martin van Hees a Dutch philosopher and academic
- Eef van Breen a Dutch jazz trumpeter, singer, arranger and composer
Sport
- Jan Lomulder a Dutch former kickboxer
- Adelinde Cornelissen a Dutch dressage rider
- Jasper Iwema a Dutch motorcycle rider
- Laura Dijkema a Dutch volleyball player