Grootegast facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grootegast
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Village, former municipality
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Wind mill in Sebaldeburen
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.svg)
Location in Groningen
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| Country |  Netherlands |
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| Province |  Groningen |
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| Municipality |  Westerkwartier |
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| Area | |||
| • Total | 31.27 km2 (12.07 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) | ||
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 3,350 | ||
| • Density | 107.13/km2 (277.5/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postcode |
9820–9823, 9860–9869
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| Area code | 0594 | ||
Grootegast is a village in the northeastern Netherlands. It used to be its own municipality (a type of local government area). On January 1, 2019, Grootegast joined with other areas to form a new, larger municipality called Westerkwartier. Grootegast is also a sister city to Kingston, Tasmania, which is in Australia!
Contents
Discover Grootegast: Where Is It?
Grootegast is located in the province of Groningen in the Netherlands. It's a small place, but it was once the main village of its own municipality.
Villages in the Area
The former municipality of Grootegast included several other small villages. These included Doezum, Enumatil, Faan, Kornhorn, Lutjegast, Niekerk, Oldekerk, Opende, and Sebaldeburen. In some of these villages, people still speak the West Frisian language.
A Look Back in Time: Grootegast's History
The village of Grootegast started around the year 1000. Back then, it was known as Majorgast. From the 1400s onwards, it became known as the opposite of Lutjegast, which means 'small gast'.
The Little White Church
Grootegast has a special church from the 1600s. It's called the Witte Kerkje, which means 'Little White Church'. This old church was fixed up and made new again in 1829.
What Does the Name Mean?
The name Grootegast comes from a word called gast or gaast. This word means a higher, sandy area of land. These sandy spots were often found in places that were otherwise very swampy. The word Groot is Dutch for 'large'. So, Grootegast means 'large sandy ridge'.
The Unique Dialect of Grootegast
People in Grootegast speak a special dialect called Grootegasters or Westerkwartiers. It's a very interesting way of speaking because it's a mix of different languages.
A Blend of Languages
This dialect is mostly a type of Gronings. But it also sounds a lot like Drents, which is another Dutch dialect. What makes it really unique is that the accent and grammar often sound like Frisian. This is because many people in nearby Lutjegast spoke Frisian not long ago. Even today, you can hear the Frisian influence in Grootegast. Many people there have Frisian family, and they have strong connections with the province of Friesland.
Famous People from Grootegast
Some notable people have come from Grootegast:
- Cornelius Van Til (1895–1987), a well-known theologian (someone who studies religion).
- Ron Groenewoud (1937), a football (soccer) player.
See also
In Spanish: Grootegast para niños
