Wolvega (), () is the largest town in the municipality of
Weststellingwerf
Weststellingwerf (; Stellingwarfs: or ) is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands. It borders both Drenthe and Overijssel. It is one of the municipalities of Friesland where the s ...
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 ...
(Fryslan), in 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 13,090 in 2021. Wolvega is the capital and largest town of the municipality.
History
The village was first mentioned in 1218,
and means "settlement of Wolf (person)." The Dutch Reformed church was built in 1646 using material from its medieval predecessor. The tower was rebuilt after a fire in 1894.
Lycklama State was a ''
stins
A stins (Dutch, pl. ''stinsen''; from West Frisian ''stienhûs'' utch ''steenhuis''"stone house", shortened to ''stins'', pl. ''stinzen'') is a former stronghold or villa in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. Many stinsen carry the name ...
'' built in the early 17th century. It was built as a fortified building even though advances in warfare had made the construction obsolete. In 1626, Rinco van Lycklama became ''grietman'' (predecessor of mayor/judge) of Stellingwerf-Westeinde. In 1736, it was in a dilapidated state and demolished. The Catholic retirement home Huize Lycklama was later built in its place.
Around 1820, the main road from
Leeuwarden
Leeuwarden (; ; ; ) is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in Friesland, Netherlands, with a population of 127,073 (2023). It is the provincial capital and seat of the Provin ...
to
Zwolle
Zwolle () is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Northeastern Netherlands. It is the Capital city, capital of the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Overijssel ...
was constructed through Wolvega.
In 1835, Wolvega became the capital of the municipality of Weststellingwerf.
It was home to 1,202 people in 1840.
In 1868, the
Wolvega railway station
Wolvega is a railway station in Wolvega, Netherlands. The station opened on 15 January 1868 and is on the Arnhem–Leeuwarden railway. The services are operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen.
Train services
Bus services
Bus services at this stat ...
opened.
During the 1950s, it became one of the industrial centre of Friesland, and started to develop into a town.
Sights
The only remaining ''stins'' in Wolvega is Lindenoord which was built in 1780 in
Louis XVI style
Louis XVI style, also called ''Louis Seize'', is a style of architecture, furniture, decoration and art which developed in France during the 19-year reign of Louis XVI (1774–1792), just before the French Revolution. It saw the final phase of t ...
. The estate used to organise
horse races.
The races moved to
Victoria Park which hosts the largest horse race of the Netherlands.
There are two
windmill
A windmill is a machine operated by the force of wind acting on vanes or sails to mill grain (gristmills), pump water, generate electricity, or drive other machinery.
Windmills were used throughout the high medieval and early modern period ...
s in the town,
De Gooyer and
Windlust.
Gallery
File:Gemeentehuis Weststellingwerf.jpg, Town Hall
File:Wolvegea, Aldheidkeamer Stellingwerf.jpg, House in Wolvega
File:Martinibuurt.jpg, Neighbourhood in Wolvega
File:Wolvega Friesland Gemeente Weststellingwerf Holland.jpg, Street view
See also
*
Victoria Park, Wolvega
Victoria Park is a harness racing venue located in Wolvega in Friesland in the Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in t ...
*
Wolvega railway station
Wolvega is a railway station in Wolvega, Netherlands. The station opened on 15 January 1868 and is on the Arnhem–Leeuwarden railway. The services are operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen.
Train services
Bus services
Bus services at this stat ...
References
{{Dutch municipality Weststellingwerf
Geography of Weststellingwerf
Populated places in Friesland