Westerwolde (municipality)

Westerwolde (Dutch pronunciation: [ˌʋɛstərˈʋɔldə]; Gronings: Westerwoolde) is a municipality in the province of Groningen in the northeast of the Netherlands.

Westerwolde
Flag of Westerwolde
Coat of arms of Westerwolde
Highlighted position of Westerwolde in a municipal map of Groningen
Location in Groningen
Coordinates: 53°01′41″N 7°08′40″E / 53.0281°N 7.1445°E / 53.0281; 7.1445
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceGroningen
Established1 January 2018
Government
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorJaap Velema (D66)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Websitewww.westerwolde.nl

The municipalities of Bellingwedde and Vlagtwedde have merged into the new municipality of Westerwolde on 1 January 2018.[1] The municipality continues to use both municipal halls in Sellingen and Wedde.[2]

Geography

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Map of the municipality

The municipality is located in the southeast of the province of Groningen at the border with Drenthe and in the northeast of the Netherlands at the border with Germany. Neighbouring municipalities in the Netherlands are Oldambt in the north, Pekela and Stadskanaal in the west, Borger-Odoorn in the southwest, and Emmen in the south. Neighbouring municipalities in Germany are Bunde in the northeast, Rhede, Dörpen, and Lathen in the east, and Haren in the southeast.

Politics

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On 22 November 2017, the first election was held for Westerwolde municipal council.[3] The next election was held on 16 March 2022, the result shown in the table below.[4] The council has 21 seats, the number determined by the population size.

Party Popular vote Seats
Votes %
Gemeentebelangen Westerwolde (GB) 2,879 26.92
6 / 19
Labour Party (PvdA) 2,175 20.33
5 / 19
Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) 2,055 19.21
4 / 19
Party for Freedom (PVV) 1,312 12.27
3 / 19
GroenLinks (GL) 831 7.77
1 / 19
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) 751 7.02
1 / 19
Ecologisch Alternatief Westerwolde 693 6.48
1 / 19

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "Gemeentelijke herindelingen" (in Dutch), Government of the Netherlands, 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  2. ^ Marcel Looden, "Westerwolde: 40 mensen tekort" (in Dutch), Dagblad van het Noorden, 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Gemeentebelangen wint verkiezingen in Westerwolde" (in Dutch), RTV Noord, 22 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Gemeenteraad 16 March 2022". Verkiezingsuitslagen (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 June 2022.
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