De Blesse

Summary

De Blesse (or Blesse[3]) is a village in Weststellingwerf in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. It had a population of around 800 in 2017.[4] Its windmill, De Mars, was rebuilt in 1997. Before 1956, the village was called Blesse.[3]

De Blesse
Village
De Mars Windmill
De Mars Windmill
Location in Weststellingwerf municipality
Location in Weststellingwerf municipality
De Blesse is located in Friesland
De Blesse
De Blesse
Location in the Netherlands
De Blesse is located in Netherlands
De Blesse
De Blesse
De Blesse (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 52°50′38″N 6°2′25″E / 52.84389°N 6.04028°E / 52.84389; 6.04028
CountryNetherlands Netherlands
ProvinceFriesland Friesland
MunicipalityWeststellingwerf Weststellingwerf
Area
 • Total2.25 km2 (0.87 sq mi)
Elevation7 m (23 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total815
 • Density360/km2 (940/sq mi)
Postal code
8397[1]
Dialing code0561

History edit

The village was first mentioned in 1439 as ter Blesse, and means "bare spot".[5]

The Blesbroggeschaans is a sconce built in 1583 along the main road of Friesland to Overijssel. In 1672 and 1673, it was besieged by Christoph Bernhard von Galen, the Prince-bishop of Münster, but did not get taken.[6] The Dutch Reformed chapel dates from 1880.[7]

The grist mill De Mars was built in 1834. In the 1910s, an electro motor was installed and in 1958, the top of the windmill was demolished. In 1999, De Mars was restored and is frequently in commission.[8] De Blesse was home to 160 people in 1840.[3]

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Postcodetool for 8397EP". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "De Blesse". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  4. ^ Villages - Weststellingwerf municipality (in Dutch)
  5. ^ "Blesse - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Ontdekkingsreis door de Lendevallei" (PDF). It Fryske Gea (in Dutch). p. 1. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  7. ^ Ronald Stenvert & Sabine Broekhoven (2000). "Blesdijke" (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90 400 9476 4. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  8. ^ "De Mars". Molen database (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2022.