Dwingeloo (Drents: Dwingel) is a village in the municipality of
Westerveld in the Dutch province of Drenthe. On January 1, 2020, the
village had 2425 inhabitants, excluding surrounding hamlets.
It is located northwest of Hoogeveen between Diever / Dieverbrug and
Lhee / Lheebroek. Until the municipal reorganization of January 1,
1998, it was an independent municipality, which also included the
neighborhoods Westeinde, Eemster, Leggeloo, Lhee and Lheebroek and
parts of Geeuwenbrug and Dieverbrug.
The large green brink in
the center of the village is a protected village view. Dwingeloo was
voted 'greenest village in Europe' in September 2011.
The earliest recorded reference to Dwingeloo appears in a 1181
document from the Ruinen monastery's archives, detailing the acquisition
of a tithe on land in the area known as Twingelo. This village, located
in the province of Drenthe in the Netherlands, derives its name from Old
Saxon roots, with possible interpretations including a combination of
"thingan" (meaning restraint) and "lauha" or "loo" (forest), suggesting
a restricted woodland area; alternatively, it could stem from "thwangi"
(belt) for a narrow strip of forested land, or even "force" referring to
a legal district. Another theory points to it signifying a clearing
within the woods. Today, Dwingeloo is part of the Westerveld
municipality and is renowned for its picturesque rural charm, medieval
heritage, and proximity to natural attractions like the expansive
Dwingelderveld National Park, which spans over 14 square miles and holds
Natura 2000 status as the largest wet heathland in Western Europe. The
local economy blends traditional farming with tourism, drawing visitors
to its historic Saxon farms, scenic landscapes, and events that
highlight Drenthe's rich prehistoric and cultural past, including
artifacts from as far back as 150,000 years ago in the region.
In its
early days, the nearby settlement of Lhee was the dominant community
within the local administrative district (schultambt), but the influx of
nobility to Dwingeloo during the 11th and 12th centuries gradually
elevated it to the primary hub. During the Napoleonic period in the
early 19th century, the Dwingeloo schultambt was reorganized into a
modern municipality, incorporating the neighboring hamlets of Eemster
and Leggeloo, which had previously fallen under the jurisdiction of
Diever. This municipal structure remained intact for nearly two
centuries until boundary changes in 1998 integrated it into the larger
Westerveld area, preserving its quaint village character amid broader
regional developments.
The St. Nicholas Church
Constructed in the early 15th century
around 1410–1420, the Gothic-style St. Nicholas Church
(Sint-Nicolaaskerk) in Dwingeloo was erected on the site of an earlier
single-nave structure with a detached tower, likely dating back to the
13th or 14th century. Dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of
sailors and merchants, the church features a distinctive onion-shaped
spire, often called a "siepeltoren," which serves as a prominent
landmark visible across the surrounding flat Drenthe countryside. The
original spire collapsed dramatically in 1630, plummeting through the
roof and causing significant damage; it was rebuilt in 1631 under the
patronage of Rutger van den Boetzelaer, who served as the lord of the
nearby Batinge manor and as the drost (sheriff) of Drenthe. This new
spire, with its unique bulbous design, contrasts with the rest of the
building's architecture, adding to its visual appeal.
Tragically,
much of the church's interior was destroyed in a devastating village
fire in 1923, which ravaged several historic structures in Dwingeloo.
Restoration efforts preserved key elements, including portraits of Van
den Boetzelaer and his third wife, Batina van Lohn, which hang within
the church as reminders of its noble benefactors. An adjacent chapel
remains in private ownership, separate from the main church
administration. Situated at the heart of the village's traditional
"brink" (a central green square surrounded by historic buildings), the
church continues to host services, cultural events, and attracts
tourists interested in Dutch ecclesiastical architecture.
The
Damsel of Batinge
A charming local legend, known as the tale of the
"Juffer van Batinghe" (Damsel of Batinge), is closely tied to the
building of Dwingeloo's Sint-Nicolaaskerk. Set during the church's
construction in the 15th century, the story revolves around a fictional
young noblewoman from the historic Batinge manor—one of five manors in
the area—who became enamored with the church's master builder. She would
pass by the site daily in her carriage, distracting the architect with
her beauty and causing him to falter in his work. Concerned by the
delays, the drost of Drenthe (Rutger van den Boetzelaer in historical
context) and her father, the lord of Batinge, intervened and arranged
for her to be sent on a long journey to remove the temptation.
Before
departing, however, the damsel shared her vision for the church's spire
design with her admirer, inspiring him to incorporate her ideas once she
was gone. This, according to the saga, explains the spire's distinctive
and somewhat unconventional style compared to the rest of the Gothic
structure. Upon the church's completion, the lovers reunited and were
married, adding a romantic happily-ever-after to the folklore. The
legend endures as a beloved part of Dwingeloo's cultural heritage, often
recounted in local tours and tied to the manor's ruins, which still
evoke the area's aristocratic past.
Guild of Saint Anthony
Annually on January 17—the feast day of Saint Anthony Abbot, patron of
farmers and protector against plagues—the 12 members (referred to as
"brothers") of Dwingeloo's ancient Guild of Saint Anthony convene at the
historic Hotel Wesseling, located on the village's central brink.
Established centuries ago as a charitable organization, the guild
originally functioned by gathering rents, including payments in kind
such as goods or produce, from prominent local landowners and villagers
to aid the impoverished and vulnerable residents of the community. In
modern times, it has evolved to support a variety of social initiatives
and projects, maintaining its role in fostering community welfare while
preserving traditional customs.
One enduring in-kind lease persists
to this day: the resident of what was once the village's "debt house" (a
historical poorhouse or debtor's residence) is obligated to deliver 16
packages—equating to eight pounds—of butter to the guild each year on
January 17. This ritual underscores the guild's deep historical ties to
Dwingeloo's agrarian roots and charitable traditions, similar to other
Saint Anthony guilds worldwide that emphasize prayer, support for the
needy, and devotion to the saint, though this local version remains
uniquely tied to the village's folklore and economy.
To the south of the village is the Dwingelderveld National Park, a
large woodland and heathland area where a flock of sheep is still
present. Here is also a large radio telescope and the Planetron on
the edge of the area. More focused on tourism, this area also has a
forest pool and a number of campsites.
Southwest of Dwingeloo
is the estate of the Oldengaerde house, a well-preserved Drenthe
manor from the fifteenth century (renovated in 1717). The avenue and
canal system also dates from that time. In the garden behind the
manor is a 'Grand Canal', a narrow rectangular pond.
Just
west of the village are the houses of the manors Batinge (demolished
in 1832) and Entinge (demolished in the 18th century). The
seventeenth-century canal and avenue systems are still recognizable
in the landscape. The manor Westrup is located on the north side of
Dwingeloo. From 1843 to 2019 it had the function of a notary's
residence. Westrup's estate was moved in 1783 to a farm on the other
side of the street (Entingheweg 8), so that Dwingeloo had five
manors.
A characteristic building on the Brink is the
Schultehuis (Brink 12). This official residence of the schulte
(mayor) of Dwingeloo was built around 1675 by order of Jan Coerts
Prins.