Dedemsvaart ("Dedem's Canal") (

Dutch Low Saxon Dutch Low Saxon ( or ''Nederlaands Nedersaksies''; ) are Low Saxon dialects from the Low German language that are spoken in the northeastern Netherlands and are mostly, but not exclusively, written with local, unstandardised orthographies base ...

: ''De Voart'') is a town in

Overijssel Overijssel (; ; ; ) is a Provinces of the Netherlands, province of the Netherlands located in the eastern part of the country. The province's name comes from the perspective of the Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht, Episcopal principality of Utrecht ...

, the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

Overview

The town is located along an old canal, also called , which is the source of the village's name. The canal lost its commercial importance after

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. The area around Dedemsvaart, until 2001 part of the

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

Avereest Avereest is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Overijssel. The largest town in the municipality was Dedemsvaart. In 2001, the area became a part of Hardenberg Hardenberg (; or '' 'n Arnbarg'') is a List of cities in the Netherla ...

, was an important centre for industry.

Willem Jan van Dedem Willem Jan, Baron van Dedem tot de Rollecate (18 March 1776 – 21 November 1851) was a Dutch lawyer, landowner and taxation officer who was responsible for the peat excavation in south-east Drenthe and north-east Overijssel. The and town of Ded ...

, after whom the canal and town were named, made a plan to dig a canal; construction began on 9 July 1810. Around two years later, in 1811, the canal had already reached Balkbrug, and the town was established. In 1845 the project got into financial trouble and the baron had to forfeit the canal of Dedemsvaart, until then a private possession, to the

province A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

, who took further care of the canal. Over the years the canal changed and eventually became unfit for commercial use. The village of Dedemsvaart lies near the N377 between Balkbrug and Lutten. The municipality of Avereest was disbanded in 2001 and became part of the municipality of

Hardenberg Hardenberg (; or '' 'n Arnbarg'') is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Overijssel, Eastern Netherlands. The municipality of ...

. It's also the only settlement within the municipality where cannabis is semi-legally sold.

Notable attractions

*''Tuinen Mien Ruys'', a complex of 25 gardens by noted Dutch landscape and garden architect Mien Ruys. *''Kalkovens'', three big

lime kiln A lime kiln is a kiln used for the calcination of limestone (calcium carbonate) to produce the form of lime called ''quicklime'' (calcium oxide). The chemical equation for this reaction is: CaCO3 + heat → CaO + CO2 This reaction can tak ...

s, these were built in 1820.

Notable people

* Henk Dorgelo (1894–1961), physicist and academic * Sanne Hans (born 1984), singer-songwriter * Daniel Koerhuis (born 1981), politician * Birgit Kos (born 1995), fashion model * Martin Koster (born 1950), author *

Reinier Paping Reinier Paping (18 February 1931 – 20 December 2021) was a Dutch speedskater primarily known as the winner of the Elfstedentocht The ''Elfstedentocht'' (; West Frisian language, West Frisian: ''Alvestêdetocht'' , English language, English ...

(1931–2021), speedskater, the winner of the 1963 Elfstedentocht better known as "the hell of '63" *

Anna Charlotte Ruys Anna Charlotte Ruys or Charlotte Defresne-Ruys (1898 – 1977) was a Dutch people, Dutch professor of bacteriology and epidemiology. She became a proponent of hygiene in public health and an activist against biological warfare. Early life an ...

(1898–1977), professor of bacteriology and epidemiology * Jannie Visscher (born 1961), politician * Jarno Westerman (born 2002), football player *

Fernon Wibier Fernon Wibier (born 25 February 1971) is a former professional tennis Tennis is a List of racket sports, racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles (tennis), singles) or between two teams of two play ...

(born 1971), tennis player

Gallery

File:Aerialphotograph of Dedemsvaart.jpg, Aerial photograph of Dedemsvaart File:Exterieur - Dedemsvaart - 20047759 - RCE.jpg, Roman Catholic church File:Hofje Dedemsvaart.jpg, Little court File:Hoofdvaart Dedemsvaart 02.jpg, Street view

References

{{Authority control Populated places in Overijssel Hardenberg 1811 establishments in the Netherlands