{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Bellingwolde | settlement_type = Village | image_skyline = Bellingwolde Hoofdweg 136.jpg | image_alt = Outside of a brick farmhouse | image_caption = An Oldambt farmhouse in Bellingwolde | etymology = | nickname = | pushpin_map = Netherlands Groningen#Netherlands | pushpin_label_position = left | pushpin_mapsize = 250 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in the province of Groningen in the Netherlands | coordinates = {{coord|53|7|00|N|7|9|55|E|region:NL-GR|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Netherlands | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Groningen | subdivision_type2 = Municipality | subdivision_name2 = Westerwolde | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = (2015)<ref name="cbs2015">{{in lang|nl}} [http://statline.cbs.nl/Statweb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=83765NED&D1=0-1,3-4,8,11,14,28,31-32,99-104&D2=2030-2055&HDR=T&STB=G1&VW=T Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2017], Statistics Netherlands, 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.</ref> | area_total_ha = 451 | area_land_ha = 445 | area_water_ha = 6 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = <ref name="cbs2015"/> | population_total = 2655 | population_as_of = 2015 | population_density_km2 = auto | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 9695<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [https://www.postcode.nl/zoek/Bellingwolde, Resultaten voor "Bellingwolde,"], Postcode.nl. Retrieved 24 July 2016.</ref> | area_code = 0597<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.telefoonboek.nl/netnummer/ Netnummer zoeken], Telefoonboek.nl. Retrieved 15 December 2015.</ref> | website = | footnotes = }}
'''Bellingwolde''' ({{IPA|nl|ˌbɛlɪŋˈʋɔldə}}; Gronings: ''Bennewolle'') is a village with a population of 2,655 people in the municipality Westerwolde in the Netherlands. It is situated in the southeast of the region Oldambt, in the north of the region Westerwolde, and in the east of the province Groningen, at the border with Germany.
The settlement dates back to the 11th century. It flooded multiple times until the 16th century. In the 18th and 19th century agriculture prospered and large farmhouses were built. It was a separate municipality until it merged with Wedde into Bellingwedde in 1968.
Bellingwolde has a state protected village area with several monumental farmhouses. Other attractions are the Magnus Church, the Law House, Veldkamp's Mill, and Museum de Oude Wolden. There are four primary schools and a secondary school in the village.
==History== The origins of Bellingwolde, which was built on a sand ridge dividing the clay and peat ground, are in the 11th century.<ref name="moninned">{{in lang|nl}} Ronald Stenvert, Chris Kolman, Ben Olde Meierink, Sabine Broekhoven, and Redmer Alma, "[http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/sten009monu04_01/sten009monu04_01_0013.php Bellingwolde]", ''Monumenten in Nederland. Groningen'', 1998. Retrieved 22 November 2015.</ref>
The settlement flooded many times until parts of the Dollard were impoldered in the 16th century.<ref name="moninned"/>
The agricultural settlement started to prosper in the 18th century. Large farmhouses were built in the 19th century.<ref name="moninned"/>
Bellingwolde was a separate municipality until 1 September 1968, when it was merged with Wedde to form the new municipality Bellingwedde.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} Ad van der Meer & Onno Boonstra, ''[http://www.dans.knaw.nl/sites/default/files/file/publicaties/repertorium_NLgemeenten_1812-2006.pdf Repertorium van Nederlandse gemeenten 1812-2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116054441/http://www.dans.knaw.nl/sites/default/files/file/publicaties/repertorium_NLgemeenten_1812-2006.pdf |date=16 November 2013 }}'', Data Archiving and Networked Services, 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2013.</ref> The former municipality contained the villages of Bellingwolde, Oudeschans, and Vriescheloo, and the hamlets of Klein-Ulsda and Rhederbrug.<ref>[http://atlas1868.nl/gr/bellingwolde.html J. Kuyper, ''Gemeente Atlas van Nederland'', 1865-1870, "Bellingwolde"]. {{in lang|nl}} Retrieved 1 December 2014.</ref>
Bellingwolde became part of the new municipality of Westerwolde in 2018, when the municipalities of Bellingwedde and Vlagtwedde merged.<ref>Marcel Looden, "[http://www.dvhn.nl/groningen/De-nieuwe-grensgemeente-Westerwolde-is-geboren-22786707.html De nieuwe grensgemeente Westerwolde is geboren]" (in Dutch), ''Dagblad van het Noorden'', 1 January 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2018.</ref>
==Geography==
Bellingwolde is located in the northeast of the municipality Westerwolde in the east of the province Groningen in the northeast of the Netherlands. The village is in the southeast of the region Oldambt and in the north of the region Westerwolde, situated between the river Westerwoldse Aa in the west and the canal B.L. Tijdenskanaal in the east.
The nearest city Winschoten is {{nowrap|8 km}} to the west. In between Winschoten and Bellingwolde is the village Blijham. In the northwest it is close to the village Oudeschans, which used to be called Bellingwolderschans (Sconce of Bellingwolde). In the south Bellingwolde is connected with the village Vriescheloo and the hamlet Rhederbrug. Bellingwolde is at the border of the Netherlands and Germany. The nearest German city is Papenburg, {{nowrap|16 km}} to the east, and the closest village is Wymeer.
Bellingwolde is an administrative district ({{langx|nl|wijk}}) and neighbourhood ({{langx|nl|buurt|links=no}}). The Bellingwolde district has a total area of {{convert|4364|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}} of which {{convert|4295|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}} is land and {{convert|69|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}} is water. It is one of three districts in the municipality of Bellingwedde, the other two being Oost and Blijham. The Bellingwolde district contains the neighbourhoods Bellingwolde, Vriescheloo, Rhederbrug (western part), Oudeschans, Klein-Ulsda, and some scattered houses. The Bellingwolde neighbourhood has a total area of {{convert|451|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}} of which {{convert|445|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}} is land and {{convert|6|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}} is water.<ref name="cbs2015"/>
==Demography== {| class="wikitable" style="float:right;text-align:center" ! colspan="2" | Bellingwolde neighborhood |- ! Age range !! Pct.<ref name="cbs2015"/> |- | 0–15 years old || 16% |- | 15–25 years old || 11% |- | 25–45 years old || 23% |- | 45–65 years old || 27% |- | 65+ years old || 23% |}
In 2015, the Bellingwolde neighborhood had a total population of 2,400, of which 1,230 were men and 1,170 are women. The population density was {{convert|530|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on}}. Of the total population 43% was unmarried, 42% was married, 8% was widowed, and 7% was divorced. The district had 1,130 households, 37% were single-person households, 32% were multi-person households without children, and 30% were multi-person households with children.<ref name="cbs2015"/>
20% of the total population was ''allochtoon'', a person with at least one parent born outside the Netherlands. This percentage is divided into 10% Western ''allochtonen''{{efn|Western is used in the definition of Statistics Netherlands meaning from Europe, North-America, Oceania, Indonesia and Japan.}} and 10% non-Western ''allochtonen''.<ref name="cbs2015"/> There is an asylum seekers' center ({{langx|nl|asielzoekerscentrum}}) in Bellingwolde, where refugees from Syria and other countries are housed pending the outcome of their asylum procedures.<ref>"[http://www.rtvnoord.nl/nieuws/124509/Asielzoekerscentrum-in-Bellingwolde-weer-open Asielzoekerscentrum in Bellingwolde weer open]" (in Dutch), ''RTV Noord'', 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2016.</ref>
In 2015, the Bellingwolde district had a total population of 4,205 and a population density of {{convert|96|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="cbs2015"/>
==Culture== [[File:Bellingwolde - Magnuskerk - zijaanzicht links.jpg|thumb|The 16th-century Magnus Church]] [[File:Het Rechthuis te Bellingwolde.JPG|thumb|The 17th-century Law House]] [[File:Museum de Oude Wolden.jpg|thumb|Museum de Oude Wolden is a regional museum about the art and history of Oldambt and Westerwolde]]
Since 2009, Bellingwolde has a state protected village area (Dutch: ''beschermd dorpsgezicht'')<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stcrt-2009-17768.html Aanwijzing beschermd dorpsgezichten Bellingwolde, gemeente Bellingwedde], Staatscourant, 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2013.</ref> with many monumental buildings among which are the Magnus Church (16th century), the Law House (17th century), the Veldkamp's Mill (19th century), and about twenty farmhouses.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [https://intranet.bellingwedde.nl/over-bellingwedde/musea-en-monumenten_41625/ Musea en monumenten] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925212823/https://intranet.bellingwedde.nl/over-bellingwedde/musea-en-monumenten_41625/ |date=25 September 2015 }}, Municipality of Bellingwedde. Retrieved 23 September 2014.</ref>
The Museum de Oude Wolden is a regional museum about the art and history of Oldambt and Westerwolde. It has a permanent exhibition of paintings by magic realist Lodewijk Bruckman and temporary exhibitions.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://museumdeoudewolden.nl/?page_id=38 Programma], Museum de Oude Wolden, 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.</ref>
There is a public library, which is opened three days per week.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.mijneigenbibliotheek.nl/bellingwolde/service/adres-en-openingstijden Adresgegevens] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011012048/http://www.mijneigenbibliotheek.nl/bellingwolde/service/adres-en-openingstijden |date=11 October 2014 }}, Biblionet Groningen. Retrieved 7 October 2014.</ref>
== Infrastructure == The provincial road N969 connects Bellingwolde to Blijham in the west and Rhederbrug and the German border in the southeast.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} "[http://www.westerwoldeactueel.nl/2014/05/22/rhederweg-afgesloten-voor-doorgaand-verkeer/comment-page-1/ Rhederweg afgesloten voor doorgaand verkeer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129045441/http://www.westerwoldeactueel.nl/2014/05/22/rhederweg-afgesloten-voor-doorgaand-verkeer/comment-page-1/ |date=29 November 2014 }}", ''Westerwolde Actueel'', 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.</ref> The provincial road N973 connects Bellingwolde to Vriescheloo and Wedde in the southwest, but is discontinued as a numbered road in northeastern direction.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.provinciegroningen.nl/fileadmin/user_upload/Documenten/PS_Voordracht/voordracht2008-002.pdf Voordracht van Gedeputeerde Staten aan Provinciale Staten van Groningen betreffende de overdracht van het wegvak Wedde-Bellingwolde N973 aan de gemeente Bellingwedde] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129044710/http://www.provinciegroningen.nl/fileadmin/user_upload/Documenten/PS_Voordracht/voordracht2008-002.pdf |date=29 November 2014 }}, Province of Groningen, 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2014.</ref> The nearest highway is the A7 (E22) with its nearest exit at Oudeschans just north of Bellingwolde.
The nearest railway is the Harlingen–Nieuweschans railway north of Bellingwolde, with its nearest stations in Winschoten and Bad Nieuweschans. There are two bus lines, operated by Qbuzz, passing through Bellingwolde and connecting it to nearby settlements and the two railway stations: * Line 12: Winschoten – Blijham – Bellingwolde – Blijham – Winschoten<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://wiki.ovinnederland.nl/wiki/Lijn_12_Ringlijn_Winschoten_Station_-_Bellingwolde Lijn 12 Ringlijn Winschoten Station - Bellingwolde] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129050606/http://wiki.ovinnederland.nl/wiki/Lijn_12_Ringlijn_Winschoten_Station_-_Bellingwolde |date=29 November 2014 }}, OV in Nederland.nl, 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.</ref> * Line 811: Bad Nieuweschans – Klein-Ulsda – Oudeschans – Bellingwolde – Vriescheloo – Veelerveen – Vlagtwedde<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://wiki.ovinnederland.nl/wiki/Lijn_811_Bad_Nieuweschans_Busstation_-_Vlagtwedde_Marke Lijn 811 Bad Nieuweschans Busstation - Vlagtwedde Marke], OV in Nederland.nl, 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.</ref>
==Education== There are three primary schools located in Bellingwolde. The two public schools are Oosterschool and Westerschool. The Protestant school is De Wegwijzer.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [https://dloket.bellingwedde.nl/loket/producten-en-diensten/basisonderwijs Basisonderwijs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201210930/https://dloket.bellingwedde.nl/loket/producten-en-diensten/basisonderwijs |date=1 February 2014 }}, Municipality of Bellingwedde. Retrieved 25 May 2016.</ref>
The secondary school Dollard College has a location with 170 students in Bellingwolde.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [https://dloket.bellingwedde.nl/loketburgers/pdc/9706 Voortgezet onderwijs] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523133925/https://dloket.bellingwedde.nl/loketburgers/pdc/9706 |date=23 May 2013 }}, Municipality of Bellingwedde. Retrieved 20 May 2013.</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.dollardcollege.nl/Vestigingen/Bellingwedde/Dit-zijn-wij.html Bellingwedde], Dollard College. Retrieved 7 May 2016.</ref> At this school location, the students can do the first two years of vmbo, havo, and vwo, and the final two years of the vmbo theoretical program.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.dollardcollege.nl/Home/Dollard-College-Algemeen/algemene-informatie.html Algemene informatie], Dollard College. Retrieved 20 May 2013.</ref>
There are no institutions for tertiary education located in Bellingwolde.
== Notable people == * Jan Mulder (born 1945), footballer, writer, and commentator * Lou Ottens (1926–2021), a Dutch engineer, inventor of the cassette tape<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sonyclub.nl/nieuws/uitvinder-audiocassette-lou-ottens-overleden/ |title=Uitvinder audiocassette Lou Ottens overleden |website=Sony Club |access-date=25 February 2022|language=nl}}</ref>
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline|Bellingwolde}}
{{Geographic location |title = '''Neighbouring cities and villages''' |Centre = Bellingwolde |North = Bad Nieuweschans |Northeast = Bunde, Weener (Germany) |East = Papenburg (Germany) |Southeast = Rhede (Germany) |South = Vlagtwedde |Southwest = Onstwedde |West = Winschoten<br />Oude Pekela |Northwest = Beerta }} {{Dutch municipality Bellingwedde}}
Category:Bellingwolde Category:Westerwolde (municipality) Category:Former municipalities of Groningen (province) Category:Populated places in Groningen (province) Category:Germany–Netherlands border crossings