Rottevalle () is a village in

Smallingerland Smallingerland (; ) is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. Population centres Boornbergum, De Tike, De Veenhoop, De Wilgen, Drachten (main town), Drachtstercompagnie, Goëngahuizen, ...

municipality in the province of

Friesland Friesland ( ; ; official ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia (), named after the Frisians, is a Provinces of the Netherlands, province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen (p ...

, 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 ...

. It had a population of around 1,363 in January 2017.

History

The village was first mentioned in 1622 as "de Rottevalle", and literally means "the rat trap", but has been named after a type of

lock Lock(s) or Locked may refer to: Common meanings *Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance *Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal Arts and entertainme ...

which resembles a rat trap. Rottevalle developed 1650 when the canal De Lits was dug for the excavation of

peat Peat is an accumulation of partially Decomposition, decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, Moorland, moors, or muskegs. ''Sphagnum'' moss, also called peat moss, is one of the most ...

. The initial settlement consisted of an

inn Inns are generally establishments or buildings where travelers can seek lodging, and usually, food and drink. Inns are typically located in the country or along a highway. Before the advent of motorized transportation, they also provided accomm ...

with several houses. The village was originally part of the '' grietenij'' (predecessor of a municipality)

Achtkarspelen Achtkarspelen () is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Friesland in the Northern Netherlands. In 2021, it had a population of 27,900. History The name ''Achtkarspelen'', literally me ...

. The Dutch Reformed church was built in 1724. Rottevalle was home to 1,050 people in 1840. In 1943, the border was redrawn and Rottevalle became part of Smallingerland. In 1958, part of the De Lits was filled up inside the village.

Notable people

* Baukje de Boer-Veenstra (born 1881), speed skater * Hendrik Kloosterman (1900–1968), mathematician * Joop Boomsma (1945–2018), author and playwright

Gallery

File:Huizen aan de Compagnonswei in Rottevalle.jpg, Street/canal view File:20210917 haven2 Rottevalle.jpg, The harbour of Rottevalle File:20210917 Rottevalle Feanskipfear3 Gerrit Terpstra.jpg, Houses in Rottevalle File:De Buorren Rottevalle.jpg, Street view

References

External links

Populated places in Friesland Smallingerland {{Friesland-geo-stub