Wergea (original) (raw)

"Warga" redirects here. For people so named, see Warga (surname).

Village in Friesland, Netherlands

Warga Wergea
Village
Village viewVillage view
Flag of WargaFlagCoat of arms of WargaCoat of arms
Location in the former Boarnsterhim municipalityLocation in the former Boarnsterhim municipality
Warga is located in FrieslandWargaWargaLocation in the NetherlandsShow map of FrieslandWarga is located in NetherlandsWargaWargaWarga (Netherlands)Show map of Netherlands
Coordinates: 53°15′7″N 5°48′49″E / 53.25194°N 5.81361°E / 53.25194; 5.81361
Country Netherlands Netherlands
Province Friesland Friesland
Municipality Leeuwarden Leeuwarden
Area[1]
• Total 13.01 km2 (5.02 sq mi)
Elevation[2] 0.1 m (0.3 ft)
Population (2021)[1]
• Total 1,830
• Density 140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Postal code 9005[1]
Dialing code 058

Wergea (Dutch: Warga) is a village in Leeuwarden municipality in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. It had a population of around 1,560 in January 2017.[3]

There are two windmills in the village, De Hempenserpoldermolen and a paaltjasker.

Around year 0, several archeological finds yielded proof of permanent residency in the form of farm remnants. These residents probably originated from surrounding communities and were pushed towards new land due to overpopulation. The first residents established themselves on terps.

From the 3th-8th CE century the terps were abandoned due to unknown reasons, possible being connected to the depositing of marine clay by the sea which greatly diminished the arability of the land. After the sea level subsided, the area became suitable for human habitation again. [_citation needed_]

Recorded history of the village

[edit]

The village was first mentioned in 944 as Wartengahe. The complete etymology is unknown, though the name partially derives from a prefix for fishing related practices.[4] Wergea was situated on a waterway connecting the north and south of Friesland. This yielded the village to develop due to trade. Most notably, the village enacted tarrifs on goods at every one of it's many bridges. Today, there is only one bridge still crossing said waterway.[5]

In 1664, the widow's court was founded by Vrouck van Popma for poor widows. The wooden buildings in the village were rebuilt in 1864.[6]

The polder mill De Hempenserpoldermolen was built in 1863. In 1955, a pumping station was opened and the windmill became obsolete. The then owner had plans to demolish the building, however the windmill was transferred to the water board for 2 Dutch guilders. In 1988, the mill was restored.[7]

In 1840, Wergea was home to 873 people.[8] The Roman Catholic St. Martinus Church was built between 1860 and 1862. In 1860, the terp was excavated. In 1886, the first cooperative dairy factory of the Netherlands opened in Wergea.[6] The company is nowadays - after many mergers - known as FrieslandCampina, however the Wergea factory closed in 1994.[8][9]

Before 2014, Wergea was part of Boarnsterhim municipality and before 1984 it belonged to Idaarderadeel [fy].[8]

  1. ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 30 March 2022. two entries
  2. ^ "Postcodetool for 9005MA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  3. ^ Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2017 - CBS Statline
  4. ^ "Wergea - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  5. ^ Faber, Jan. "Wergea". Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  6. ^ a b Ronald Stenvert & Sabine Broekhoven (2000). "Warga" (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90 400 9476 4. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  7. ^ "De Hempenserpoldermolen". Molendatabase (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "Wergea". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Friesland and Campina agree on merger". Dairy Industries International. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
  10. ^ "'t Kleine Krantsje, 1964-1997 | 27 februari 1971 | pagina 2". Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  11. ^ Vooren, Jurryt van de (2019-03-13). "Het graf van Elfstedenwinnaar Minne Hoekstra". Sportgeschiedenis (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-06-29.