Winschoterzijl is a former hamlet in the municipality of Oldambt in the northeast of 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 was also a sconce, and is still a

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 ...

. The village was settled by

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

refugees from

East Frisia East Frisia () or East Friesland (; ; ; ) is a historic region in the northwest of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is primarily located on the western half of the East Frisia (peninsula), East Frisian peninsula, to the east of West Frisia and to the ...

during the

Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War, fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in History of Europe, European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died from battle, famine ...

(1618–1648). In 1992, Winschoterzijl was demolished during the widening of the

Pekel A Pekel A or Pekel Aa () is a river in the Province of Groningen in the Netherlands. The villages of Oude Pekela and Nieuwe Pekela have been named after the river. The name translates to Brine ('' Pekel'') River ('' A''), and used to flow from th ...

History

In 1593, a

was built near the confluence of the rivers and

. In 1608, the river from the

Dollart The Dollart (German name, ) or Dollard (Dutch name, ) is a bay in the Wadden Sea between the northern Netherlands and Germany, on the west side of the estuary of the Ems river. Most of it dries at low tide. Many water birds feed there. Gain ...

to Winschoterzijl was canalised and widened to 30 feet as the Nieuwediep (now: Winschoterdiep). In 1628, a sconce (fortification) was constructed at Winschoterzijl to protect the Province of Groningen from enemy attack. In nearby

, a religious war fought as part of the

(1618–1648).

refugees settled in Winschoterzijl, because the area around

Winschoten Winschoten (; ) is a city with a population of 18,518 in the municipality of Oldambt (municipality), Oldambt in the northeast of the Netherlands. It is the largest city in the region of Oldambt (region), Oldambt in the province of Groningen (prov ...

was not governed by the

city of Groningen Groningen ( , ; ; or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands. Dubbed the "capital of the north", Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of the northern part of ...

which did not accept refugees, but was a domain of the

Princes of Orange Prince of Orange (or Princess of Orange if the holder is female) is a title associated with the sovereign Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France and subsequently held by the Stadtholder, stadtholders of, and then the Heir a ...

who allowed Lutherans. On 7 September 1672, the army of

Münster Münster (; ) is an independent city#Germany, independent city (''Kreisfreie Stadt'') in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also a ...

attacked Groningen, and managed to take Winschoterzijl and the city of Winschoten. The

Dutch States Army The Dutch States Army () was the army of the Dutch Republic. It was usually called this, because it was formally the army of the States-General of the Netherlands, the sovereign power of that federal republic. This army was brought to such a size ...

launched a counter-attack, and the army of Münster was forced to retreat. Winschoterzijl was liberated several days later. In 1695, a Lutheran church was built in Winschoterzijl, and inaugurated in 1696. On 1 April 1753,

Catholics The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

were given permission to establish a church in Winschoterzijl. During

mass Mass is an Intrinsic and extrinsic properties, intrinsic property of a physical body, body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the physical quantity, quantity of matter in a body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physi ...

they were attacked by several hundred farmers and beaten up. In 1804, two windmills were built in Winschoterzijl as

windpump A windpump is a wind-driven device which is used for pumping water. Windpumps were used to pump water since at least the 9th century in what is now Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. The use of wind pumps became widespread across the Muslim world a ...

De Olde Molen De Olde Molen ( /də ˈoʊld ˈmoʊlən/ '' duh OLD-uh MOH-luhn''), also known as ''Old Dutch Windmill'', ''The Mill'', or ''Alte Mühle'' is a non-operational octagonal smock mill with a stage (elevated platform) reconstructed in 1961''Groninger ...

, one of the windmills burned down in 1814, and was rebuilt in 1815, and has been relocated to

Palm Beach, Aruba Palm Beach is a tourism district about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) northwest of Oranjestad, the capital of Aruba. Many high-rise hotels are located there, such as Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino, Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, Barcel ...

. Winschoterzijl remained a small village, and in 1820s a decision was taken to move the church to Winschoten. In 1836, the church was disassembled and rebuilt in Winschoten. At the 1840 census, the population was 69 people spread over the municipalities

Wedde Wedde () is a village in the municipality Westerwolde in the province Groningen in the Netherlands. It is located 9 km southeast of Winschoten. The castle Wedderborg is located in the village. History Most of Westerwolde was a raised bog ...

, Beerta and Winschoten. Around 1870, the Van Gogh bridge was constructed. The origin of the name of the bridge is unclear. A decision was taken to widen the Pekel A. The last house in Winschoterzijl was demolished in 1992, the Van Gogh bridge was moved to Winschoten near the

McDonald's McDonald's Corporation, doing business as McDonald's, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational fast food chain store, chain. As of 2024, it is the second largest by number of locations in the world, behind only the Chinese ch ...

, and the hamlet was officially disestablished.

Legacy

The

is still present and called Winschoterzijl. Even though the hamlet has been disestablished, there are a couple of farms left. In 2013, the municipality of Bellingwedde placed a city limits sign at the remaining part of Winschoterzijl in their municipality. There is also a street sign in Winschoten giving directions to Winschoterzijl, however there is no sign to inform you that you've reached the hamlet. One of the farms is named Landgoed Winschoterzijl, and offers a camping.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Former populated places in the Netherlands Oldambt (municipality) 1992 disestablishments in the Netherlands Fortifications in the Netherlands Locks of the Netherlands