Drachten is the capital of the municipality of Smallingerland in
the Dutch province of Friesland. It is located northeast of
Heerenveen and southeast of Leeuwarden.
The Drachtstervaart
runs through Drachten. In 2020 Drachten had 45,075 inhabitants,
making it the second largest city in the province of Friesland by
population. The hamlets fall under Drachten; Buitenstverlaat,
Folgeren, Nijtap (small part), Noorderend, Zuidereind and
Zuiderheide.
Drachten is a town located in the province of Friesland (Fryslân) in
the northern Netherlands, within the municipality of Smallingerland. It
is the second-largest town in Friesland, with a population of around
45,000 inhabitants as of recent estimates. Situated between the cities
of Groningen and Heerenveen, Drachten lies along the A7 motorway and is
known for its industrial heritage, modern infrastructure, and cultural
landmarks. The name "Drachten" derives from the Old Frisian word
"draga," meaning "to drain" or "peat excavation," reflecting its origins
in land reclamation from marshy peat bogs. Today, it serves as an
economic hub with industries in electronics, machinery, food processing,
chemicals, and furniture, but its history reveals a transformation from
a modest agricultural settlement to a thriving urban center.
Early Origins and Medieval Period (Pre-1200 to 1550)
The history of
Drachten traces back to small communities established on the east side
of the Drait (or Dracht) river, where early settlers began draining the
surrounding peat bogs for agricultural purposes. This reclamation effort
was essential in transforming the marshy landscape into arable land.
Around 1200 A.D., a small stone church was constructed in the area,
serving the local population for approximately 200 years. However,
rising water levels eventually necessitated its relocation further east.
By the mid-16th century, around 1550, the region's peat reserves were
largely exhausted. Peat had become a vital energy source for both
household and industrial use across the Netherlands, but supply in
Friesland could no longer meet the growing demand, setting the stage for
later economic shifts. During this medieval period, Drachten remained a
modest settlement, with roots possibly tied to broader Frisian
traditions of land management and community living, though detailed
records from this era are sparse.
Peat Exploitation and
Infrastructure Development (17th Century)
The 17th century marked a
pivotal era for Drachten's growth, driven by the peat industry. In 1641,
farmers from Drachten North and Drachten South formed an agreement with
affluent investors from The Hague, known as the "Drachten Associates"
(including prominent businessman Passchier Hendriks Bolleman). This
partnership aimed to extract and supply peat to fuel Holland's
burgeoning industries. To facilitate transportation, the Drachtster
Compagnonsvaart canal was constructed, along with two side channels,
employing around 800 workers who completed the project in just one year.
This infrastructure spurred rapid development, leading to the
establishment of dwellings, storage facilities, hostels, and businesses
along the waterways.
Although the venture was economically
short-lived and ultimately led to Bolleman's financial ruin, it laid the
foundational infrastructure for Drachten's expansion. The peat industry
persisted for about 200 years, attracting workers and fostering a
service-oriented economy. However, as peat reserves dwindled, many
poorer laborers remained in the area, transitioning to small-scale
farming with varying degrees of success.
Industrial Expansion and
Shipbuilding (18th–19th Centuries)
With the canals in place, Drachten
evolved into a hub for shipbuilding and related trades during the 18th
and 19th centuries. The Drachtstervaart canal enabled the transport of
ships, stimulating industries such as rope-yards, carpenter's yards, and
forges. In 1746, the first shipyard was founded on the Langewijk,
initially producing timber flatboats for peat transport. By 1895, it had
shifted to constructing iron-hulled vessels. A second shipyard opened on
the Drachtstervaart in 1902.
Along the canal, a vibrant commercial
strip emerged, featuring pubs, shops, and utilities like a rope-walk.
Around 1830, a town hall was built, and a notary public relocated from
nearby Oudega to Drachten, signaling its growing administrative
importance. The town also developed interests in textiles and other
trades, though agriculture remained a backbone for many residents.
Historical features from this period include an 18th-century church and
the Bleekershûs Museum, which houses sculptures and artifacts like the
first film projector used in the region.
Early 20th Century:
Challenges, Innovation, and Tragedy (1900–1940s)
The early 20th
century brought both innovation and hardship. After the peat industry's
decline, Drachten focused on agriculture and small enterprises, but
economic struggles persisted for former workers. A devastating event
occurred in 1913 with the "Drachten explosion," an industrial accident
that claimed numerous lives and marked one of the town's most tragic
historical moments.
In the realm of architecture and culture,
Drachten became an unexpected site for modernist experimentation in
1921. Local architect Cees Rienks de Boer was commissioned by the
municipality of Smallingerland to design sixteen middle-class
residential buildings and an agricultural school
(Rijkslandbouwwinterschool) in the Parrot District (part of the
Stapenséa 1918 expansion plan). De Boer collaborated with De Stijl
artist Theo van Doesburg and architect J.J.P. Oud, who critiqued and
refined the designs. Van Doesburg introduced bold primary color schemes
(red, blue, yellow, with black, white, and grey) for exteriors,
interiors, and even gardens, along with stained glass windows depicting
agricultural scenes using geometric "doorbeelden" methods.
This
project was groundbreaking, integrating De Stijl principles—such as
geometric forms and color planes—into urban design from the outset, a
rarity in the Netherlands. However, the vibrant colors sparked
controversy, earning the area the nickname "Parrot District." Residents
quickly repainted their homes in conventional tones, and the school
board delayed full implementation for decades. Restoration efforts began
in 1988, leading to the formation of the Stichting Theo van Doesburg
Drachten to preserve the designs. In 2011, Museum Dr8888 initiated the
Van Doesburg-Rinsema House project, restoring one residence with
original colors, wallpapers, and furniture replicas, opening it as a
museum branch in 2017 with virtual reality previews. This episode
highlights Drachten's brief but influential role in modernist art
history.
During World War II, Drachten saw military activity,
including liberation efforts by Allied forces in April 1945, with
Canadian troops advancing through the area toward Dokkum. (Note: This is
inferred from broader regional context, as specific wartime details for
Drachten are limited in sources.)
Post-War Growth and
Modernization (1950–Present)
The post-war period transformed Drachten
into a modern industrial town. From 1950 to 1991, the population surged
by an average of 1,000 residents per year, largely due to the
establishment of a Philips electronics factory, which attracted workers
and spurred economic diversification. By the late 20th century,
industries expanded to include transport equipment, machinery, food,
chemicals, and furniture.
In the 2000s, Drachten gained international
attention for its innovative traffic experiment in the town center,
implementing a "shared space" design that removed most signs and curbs.
This reduced annual accidents from eight to one, emphasizing pedestrian
and cyclist priority. Culturally, Drachten boasts the De Lawei theater,
art galleries, museums, and green spaces like the Drachtstervaart canal.
The dominant language is West Frisian, preserving regional identity.
Notable Figures
Drachten has produced several influential
individuals:
Sytze Wierda (1839–1911): Architect and engineer known
for contributions to Frisian infrastructure.
Fedde Schurer
(1898–1968): Journalist, poet, and politician who played a key role in
Frisian literature and politics.
Herman Theodoor Colenbrander
(1871–1945): Historian focused on Dutch colonial history.
Harrie
Langman (1931–2016): Politician affiliated with the People's Party for
Freedom and Democracy (VVD).
Because Drachten only
became a larger town in the 1950s, most of the buildings date from
after that time. Nevertheless, there are some buildings of
architectural importance from before that time. Some examples are
the former monastery on Burgemeester Wuiteweg (where this road
passes under the A7), the Bleekerhûs (a mansion on the Moleneind)
and a Jugendstil house on the corner of Stationsweg and Lange West.
Around Torenstraat you will find a number of houses designed by
municipal architect Cees Rienks de Boer, the woodwork of which is
painted after a design by Theo van Doesburg from 1921. Because of
the primary colors that Van Doesburg prescribed, the district is
called the Papegaaienbuurt.
To steer the explosive growth in
the 1950s on the right track, the municipality of Smallingerland
hired the architectural firm Van den Broek en Bakema, which also has
the Lijnbaan in Rotterdam to its name. They have designed the
shopping and pedestrian area of the town (the most centrally
located parts of De Kaden, Moleneind, Zuiderbuurt and Stationsweg)
following the example of the Lijnbaan and are also responsible for
the "Tjaardaflats", three residential flats of thirteen floors on
the eastern edge of Drachten (where the Splitting used to enter
Drachten) to give Drachten a more urban look.
The water
tower, also from the 1950s, has been nominated as a national
monument. Drachten has 24 national monuments and 37 municipal
monuments.
In the 1990s, the city council decided that this
urban appearance did not suit Drachten and the pedestrian area was
renovated. The most striking change of that time is the Carillon at
the central intersection of the shopping promenades. At the
beginning of 2012, construction began on the new shopping center
Raadhuisplein. The new central square, which belongs to the shopping
center, has also been used as a city square.
Nowadays there
is talk of the Drachtstervaart, which was located on the Moleneind,
filled in in the 1960s, and extended to the center again. In
preparation for the construction, artist Henk Hofstra designed a
symbolic blue road measuring ten by a thousand meters. The text
Water is life appears in white, which is also the title of the
artwork. This led to a lot of protest from local residents, because
they were not or hardly informed about this in advance. The
temporary project also costs the municipality an amount of 37,500
euros. However, the blue road did generate a number of reports in
the national and international press for Drachten.
In the
spring of 2006, two unique bicycle bridges were opened in Drachten:
The Ring is a bicycle bridge over the A7 motorway and is a joint
project of the municipalities of Smallingerland and Opsterland.
The Slinger is a bicycle bridge over the Zuiderhogeweg from the
Overstesingel to the Eikesingel. With a total length of 240 meters,
it is the largest bicycle bridge in the Northern Netherlands. The
bridge is built above a roundabout and these two together ensure a
good flow of traffic. Before the roundabout was built, cyclists and
pedestrians had to cross the intersection via a crossing with
traffic lights. This resulted in a lot of traffic jams, because the
intersection is near the exit of the motorway. The bridge itself is
quite steep, which causes some problems for the elderly and
children. A viewing platform has been placed in the middle of the
bridge, from which you can look down on other traffic. There is a
fence with bars around the plateau. Above it is a large cone that
makes the total height of the bridge 30 meters. In the evening the
entire bicycle bridge is illuminated.