Drenthe

{{short description|Province of the Netherlands}} {{About|the Dutch province}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Drenthe | official_name = Province of Drenthe {{native name|nl|Provincie Drenthe}} {{native name|drt|Provincie Drenthe}} | native_name = {{native name|nl|Drenthe}} | settlement_type = Province | image_flag = Flag of Drenthe.svg | flag_size = | flag_alt = | image_shield = Drenthe wapen.svg | shield_size = | shield_alt = | nickname = | motto = | anthem = "Mien Drenthe" "My Drenthe" | image_map = Drenthe in the Netherlands.svg | map_alt = | map_caption = Location of Drenthe in the Netherlands | image_map1 = Prov-Drenthe-OpenTopo.jpg | map_caption1 = Topography map of Drenthe | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|52|55|N|6|35|E|type:adm1st|display=inline,title}} | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Netherlands | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | seat_type = Capital | seat = Assen | seat1_type = Largest city | seat1 = Emmen | government_footnotes = | leader_party = CDA | leader_title = King's Commissioner | leader_name = Agnes Mulder | leader_title1 = Council | leader_name1 = States of Drenthe | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes =  (2023)<ref name="AC">[https://allecijfers.nl/provincie/drenthe/#100-onderwerpen Statistieken provincie Drenthe - Gegevens over meer dan 100 onderwerpen!], AlleCijfers.nl</ref> | area_rank = 9th | area_total_km2 = 2680 | area_land_km2 = 2633 | area_water_km2 = 48 | length_km = | width_km = | dimensions_footnotes = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = <ref name="AC"/> | population_total = 502051 | population_rank = 10th | population_as_of = 1 January 2023 | population_density_km2 = 191 | population_density_rank = 12th nationally | population_demonym = | population_note = | demographics_type2 = GDP | demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00003/default/table?lang=en|title=EU regions by GDP, Eurostat}}</ref> | demographics2_title1 = Total | demographics2_info1 = €22.581 billion (2024) | demographics2_title2 = Per capita | demographics2_info2 = €44,626 (2024) | timezone1 = CET | utc_offset1 = +1 | timezone1_DST = CEST | utc_offset1_DST = +2 | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = | iso_code = NL-DR | blank_name_sec2 = HDI (2021) | blank_info_sec2 = 0.917<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=13 September 2018}}</ref> {{color|green|very high}} · 10th | website = {{URL|www.provincie.drenthe.nl}} | footnotes = | blank_emblem_type = Brandmark | image_blank_emblem = Drenthe.svg | blank_emblem_size = 120px }}

'''Drenthe''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈdrɛntə|-|026 Drenthe.ogg}}) is a province of the Netherlands located in the northeastern part of the country. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and the German state of Lower Saxony to the east. As of January 2023, Drenthe had a population of about 502,000, and a total area of {{convert|2680|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="AC"/>

Drenthe has been populated for 15,000 years. The region has subsequently been part of the Episcopal principality of Utrecht, Habsburg Netherlands, Dutch Republic, Batavian Republic, Kingdom of Holland and Kingdom of the Netherlands. Drenthe has been an official province since 1796. The capital and seat of the provincial government is Assen. The King's Commissioner of Drenthe is Jetta Klijnsma. The Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) is the largest party in the States-Provincial, followed by the Labour Party (PvdA) and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).

Drenthe has the lowest population density in the European Netherlands. It is a predominantly rural area, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands; except for the small cities of Assen (pop. 67,963<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/70072ned/table|title = CBS Statline}}</ref>) and Emmen (pop. 58,130), the land in Drenthe is mainly used for agriculture and it has a notable amount of forests and nature.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Drenthe |title=Drentse loofbossen zijn van topkwaliteit! |url=https://www.provincie.drenthe.nl/onderwerpen/natuur-milieu/natuur/natuur-ontwikkeling/monitoring/drentse-loofbossen/ |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=Provincie Drenthe |language=nl |archive-date=20 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920170721/https://www.provincie.drenthe.nl/onderwerpen/natuur-milieu/natuur/natuur-ontwikkeling/monitoring/drentse-loofbossen/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=wandelverhaal |date=2021-06-03 |title=Drenthe, de oerprovincie van Nederland |url=https://www.wandelverhaal.be/drenthe-de-oerprovincie-van-nederland/ |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=WANDELVERHAAL |language=nl}}</ref>

The name Drenthe is said to stem from Germanic ''thrija hantja'' meaning "three lands".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Everett-Heath |first1=John |title=The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names |publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780199580897.001.0001/acref-9780199580897-e-1912 |access-date=25 January 2025 |language=en |chapter=Drenthe}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DBNL |title=2.3 Plaatsnamen in Latijnse bronnen, Chronologisch woordenboek, Nicoline van der Sijs |url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/sijs002chro01_01/sijs002chro01_01_0012.php?q=drenthe#hl1 |access-date=2025-12-30 |website=DBNL |language=nl}}</ref>

Drenthe has been populated by people since prehistory. Artifacts from the Wolstonian Stage (150,000 years ago) are among the oldest found in the Netherlands. In fact, it was one of the most densely populated areas of the Netherlands until the Bronze Age. The most tangible evidence of this are the dolmens (''hunebedden'') built around 3500 BC. 53 of the 54 dolmens in the Netherlands can be found in Drenthe, concentrated in the northeast of the province. In 2006, the archaeological reserve of Strubben–Kniphorstbos, located between Anloo and Schipborg, was created to preserve part of this heritage.

Most of the Bronze Age objects found in the Netherlands have been found in Drenthe.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} One item shows that trading networks during this period extended a far distance. Large bronze ''situlae'' (buckets) found in Drenthe were manufactured somewhere in eastern France or in Switzerland. They were used for mixing wine with water (a Roman/Greek custom). The many finds in Drenthe of rare and valuable objects, such as tin-bead necklaces, suggest that Drenthe was a trading centre in the Netherlands in the Bronze Age.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Expedition Magazine {{!}} Tin in the Ancient Near East |url=https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/tin-in-the-ancient-near-east/ |access-date=2026-05-28 |website=Expedition Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

Drenthe was first mentioned in a document from 820, it was called ''Pago Treanth'' (Drenthe district). In archives from ''Het Utrechts Archief'', from 1024 to 1025, the "county Drenthe" is mentioned, when Emperor Henry II gave it to Bishop Adalbold II of Utrecht. Subjugation of this region into the Holy Roman Empire culminated in the Drenther Crusade launched by the Papacy around 1228-1232.<ref name="crusade">{{cite encyclopedia |first=Christoph T. |last=Maier |title=Drenthe Crusade (1228–1232) |encyclopedia=The Crusades: An Encyclopedia |editor=A. V. Murray |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2006 |volume=4 vols |at=vol. 2, p. 365}}</ref>

After long being subject to the Utrecht diocese, Bishop Henry of Wittelsbach in 1528 ceded Drenthe to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg, who incorporated it into the Habsburg Netherlands. When the Republic of the Seven United Provinces was declared in 1581, Drenthe became part of it as the County of Drenthe, although it never gained full provincial status due to its poverty; the province was so poor it was exempt from paying federal taxes and as a consequence was denied representation in the States General. The successor Batavian Republic granted it provincial status on 1 January 1796.

Shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, the Dutch government built a camp near the town of Hooghalen to intern German Jewish refugees. During the Second World War, the German occupiers used the camp (which they named KZ Westerbork) as a ''Durchgangslager'' (transit camp). Many Dutch Jews, Sinti, Roma, resistance combatants and political adversaries were imprisoned before being transferred to concentration and extermination camps in Germany and occupied Poland. Anne Frank was deported on the last train leaving the Westerbork transit camp on 3 September 1944.

In the 1970s, there were four hostage crises where South Moluccan terrorists demanded an independent Republic of South Maluku. They held hostages in hijacked trains in 1975<ref>{{in lang|nl}} Marianne van Exel, [http://www.isgeschiedenis.nl/toen/december/molukse_treinkaping_bij_wijster/ Molukse treinkaping bij Wijster] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131223223853/http://www.isgeschiedenis.nl/toen/december/molukse_treinkaping_bij_wijster/ |date=23 December 2013 }}, ''IS Geschiedenis'', 2011. Retrieved on 8 April 2014.</ref> and 1977,<ref name="hostages1977">{{in lang|nl}} Marnix Koolhaas, [http://www.geschiedenis24.nl/nieuws/2007/mei/Herdenking-Molukse-treinkaping-1977.html Herdenking Molukse treinkaping 1977], ''Geschiedenis 24'', 2007. Retrieved on 8 April 2014.</ref> in a primary school in 1977,<ref name="hostages1977"/> and in the province hall in 1978.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.geschiedenis24.nl/andere-tijden/afleveringen/2000-2001/Molukse-gijzeling-in-Assen.html Molukse gijzeling in Assen], ''Geschiedenis 24'', 2000. Retrieved on 8 April 2014.</ref>

Drenthe is situated at {{Coord|52|55|N|6|35|E|display=inline}} in the northeast of the Netherlands; with to the north the province Groningen, to the west the province Friesland, to the south the province Overijssel, and to the east the German districts Emsland and Bentheim in the state Lower Saxony.

Drenthe is the 9th largest province of the Netherlands. It has a total area of {{convert|2683|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, with {{convert|2639|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of land and {{convert|44|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of water. About 72% of the land or {{convert|1898|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} is used for agriculture.<ref name="area">{{in lang|nl}} [http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=70262ned&D1=0-1,5,11,18,24,27,31,41&D2=5-16&D3=l&HD=140414-0032&HDR=T&STB=G1,G2 Bodemgebruik; uitgebreide gebruiksvorm, per gemeente], Statistics Netherlands, 2013. Retrieved on 14 April 2014.</ref>

Drenthe has several heathlands and no significant rivers or lakes. The national parks Drents-Friese Wold and Dwingelderveld (IUCN category II) and the national landscape Drentsche Aa (IUCN category V) are all (partially) located in the province.

The major urban centers of the province are the capital Assen in the north and Emmen, Meppel, Hoogeveen, and Coevorden in the south.

=== Climate === Drenthe has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfb).

{{Weather box  |metric first=yes |single line=yes |location=Groningen Airport Eelde ({{coord|53|08|N|06|35|E|display=inline}}) |temperature colour=   |Jan maximum humidex= |Feb maximum humidex= |Mar maximum humidex= |Apr maximum humidex= |May maximum humidex= |Jun maximum humidex= |Jul maximum humidex= |Aug maximum humidex= |Sep maximum humidex= |Oct maximum humidex= |Nov maximum humidex= |Dec maximum humidex= |year maximum humidex=   |Jan record high C=14.5 |Feb record high C=15.2 |Mar record high C=22.7 |Apr record high C=27.7 |May record high C=31.5 |Jun record high C=33.5 |Jul record high C=33.1 |Aug record high C=34.7 |Sep record high C=30.5 |Oct record high C=24.8 |Nov record high C=17.4 |Dec record high C=15.4 |year record high C=34.7  |Jan high C=4.7 |Feb high C=5.4 |Mar high C=9.0 |Apr high C=13.4 |May high C=17.4 |Jun high C=19.9 |Jul high C=22.2 |Aug high C=22.1 |Sep high C=18.6 |Oct high C=13.9 |Nov high C=8.7 |Dec high C=5.2 |year high C=13.4  |Jan mean C=2.4 |Feb mean C=2.4 |Mar mean C=5.2 |Apr mean C=8.4 |May mean C=12.3 |Jun mean C=14.9 |Jul mean C=17.1 |Aug mean C=16.9 |Sep mean C=13.8 |Oct mean C=10.0 |Nov mean C=6.0 |Dec mean C=2.9 |year mean C=9.3  |Jan low C=-0.4 |Feb low C=-0.6 |Mar low C=1.4 |Apr low C=3.4 |May low C=6.9 |Jun low C=9.5 |Jul low C=11.9 |Aug low C=11.6 |Sep low C=9.3 |Oct low C=6.2 |Nov low C=2.9 |Dec low C=0.1 |year low C=5.2   |Jan record low C=-22.0 |Feb record low C=-16.5 |Mar record low C=-13.2 |Apr record low C=-6.5 |May record low C=-2.3 |Jun record low C=0.1 |Jul record low C=4.1 |Aug record low C=3.2 |Sep record low C=0.8 |Oct record low C=-6.4 |Nov record low C=-13.6 |Dec record low C=-15.4 |year record low C=-22.0  |Jan chill= |Feb chill= |Mar chill= |Apr chill= |May chill= |Jun chill= |Jul chill= |Aug chill= |Sep chill= |Oct chill= |Nov chill= |Dec chill= |year chill=  |precipitation colour=green |Jan precipitation mm=74.2 |Feb precipitation mm=51.4 |Mar precipitation mm=64.3 |Apr precipitation mm=42.1 |May precipitation mm=58.0 |Jun precipitation mm=71.2 |Jul precipitation mm=79.4 |Aug precipitation mm=70.9 |Sep precipitation mm=78.3 |Oct precipitation mm=74.0 |Nov precipitation mm=75.0 |Dec precipitation mm=73.4 |year precipitation mm=812.1  |rain colour=   |Jan rain mm= |Feb rain mm= |Mar rain mm= |Apr rain mm= |May rain mm= |Jun rain mm= |Jul rain mm= |Aug rain mm= |Sep rain mm= |Oct rain mm= |Nov rain mm= |Dec rain mm= |year rain mm=

|humidity colour=  |Jan humidity=90 |Feb humidity=88 |Mar humidity=85 |Apr humidity=79 |May humidity=79 |Jun humidity=81 |Jul humidity=82 |Aug humidity=83 |Sep humidity=86 |Oct humidity=89 |Nov humidity=91 |Dec humidity=92 |year humidity=86  |unit precipitation days=  |precip days colour=  |Jan precipitation days= |Feb precipitation days= |Mar precipitation days= |Apr precipitation days= |May precipitation days= |Jun precipitation days= |Jul precipitation days= |Aug precipitation days= |Sep precipitation days= |Oct precipitation days= |Nov precipitation days= |Dec precipitation days= |year precipitation days=  |unit rain days=  |Jan rain days=20 |Feb rain days=16 |Mar rain days=20 |Apr rain days=17 |May rain days=18 |Jun rain days=19 |Jul rain days=20 |Aug rain days=20 |Sep rain days=19 |Oct rain days=20 |Nov rain days=22 |Dec rain days=20 |year rain days=230  |unit snow days=  |Jan snow days=8 |Feb snow days=7 |Mar snow days=5 |Apr snow days=2 |May snow days=0 |Jun snow days=N/A |Jul snow days=N/A |Aug snow days=N/A |Sep snow days=N/A |Oct snow days=0 |Nov snow days=3 |Dec snow days=6 |year snow days=33  |Jan sun=54.2 |Feb sun=78.7 |Mar sun=117.2 |Apr sun=171.6 |May sun=210.0 |Jun sun=187.0 |Jul sun=199.1 |Aug sun=183.9 |Sep sun=137.0 |Oct sun=107.2 |Nov sun=56.5 |Dec sun=47.5 |year sun=1550.0  |Jan percentsun=21 |Feb percentsun=29 |Mar percentsun=32 |Apr percentsun=41 |May percentsun=43 |Jun percentsun=37 |Jul percentsun=39 |Aug percentsun=40 |Sep percentsun=36 |Oct percentsun=33 |Nov percentsun=22 |Dec percentsun=20 |year percentsun=35 |source 1= Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.knmi.nl/klimatologie/normalen1971-2000/stationslijst.html Stationslijst] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616085009/http://www.knmi.nl/klimatologie/normalen1971-2000/stationslijst.html |date=16 June 2008 }}, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute. Retrieved on 8 April 2014.</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.klimaatatlas.nl/tabel/stationsdata/klimtab_8110_280.pdf Eelde, langjarige gemiddelden, tijdvak 1981–2010], Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute. Retrieved on 2 April 2014.</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.knmi.nl/klimatologie/normalen1971-2000/per_station/stn280/5-extremen/280_extremen.pdf Eelde extremen tijdvak 1971 t/m 2000]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute. Retrieved on 8 April 2014.</ref> }}

== Subdivisions == The province (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics or NUTS level 2) is divided into three COROP regions (NUTS level 3): North Drenthe, Southeast Drenthe, and Southwest Drenthe. The COROP regions are used for statistical purposes.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/650CB3FA-A552-4809-87F0-3E3B0875C3E9/0/2013corop.pdf Indeling van Nederland in 40 COROP-gebieden] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105233549/https://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/650CB3FA-A552-4809-87F0-3E3B0875C3E9/0/2013corop.pdf |date=5 January 2018 }}, Statistics Netherlands. Retrieved on 2 April 2014.</ref>

The Netherlands underwent a large number of municipal mergers in the past decades and Drenthe was no exception. The most significant simultaneous set of mergers took place in 1998, when 32 municipalities were amalgamated into 10 larger municipalities.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/methoden/classificaties/overzicht/gemeentelijke-indeling/1998/default.htm |title = Gemeentelijke indeling op 1 januari 1998 |trans-title = Municipal divisions on 1 January 1998 |language = nl |website = cbs.nl |publisher = CBS |access-date = 2 April 2014 |archive-date = 24 December 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181224183131/https://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/methoden/classificaties/overzicht/gemeentelijke-indeling/1998/default.htm |url-status = dead }}</ref> {{As of|2014}} Drenthe consists of 12 municipalities; Emmen is the largest municipality in terms of both population and area, Westerveld is the least populous and Meppel covers the smallest area.<ref name="CBS_pop"/><ref name="CBS_key_figs"/>

The municipalities Assen, Noordenveld, and Tynaarlo are part of the interprovincial Groningen-Assen Region<ref>[http://www.regiogroningenassen.nl/en/over-ons/ About us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325223750/http://www.regiogroningenassen.nl/en/over-ons/ |date=25 March 2014 }}, Groningen-Assen Region. Retrieved on 6 April 2014.</ref> and the municipalities Aa en Hunze, Assen, Borger-Odoorn, Coevorden, Emmen, Midden-Drenthe, Noordenveld, and Westerveld are part of the international Ems Dollart Region (EDR).<ref>{{in lang|de}} [http://www.edr.eu/de/site/mitglieder Die Mitglieder der EDR] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203180809/http://www.edr.eu/de/site/mitglieder |date=3 February 2018 }}, Ems Dollart Region, 2014. Retrieved on 6 April 2014.</ref>

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align: center;" |- ! scope="col" |Municipality ! scope="col" |Population<ref name="CBS_pop">{{cite web |url = http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=37230NED&D1=17-18&D2=101-650&D3=l&LA=EN&HDR=T&STB=G1,G2&VW=T |title = Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand |trans-title=Population growth regions per month |language = nl |author =  |date = 10 March 2014 |work = CBS Statline |publisher = CBS |access-date = 2 April 2014}}</ref> ! scope="col" |Population density<ref name="CBS_key_figs" /> ! scope="col" |Total area<ref name="CBS_key_figs">{{cite web |url = http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/default.aspx?DM=SLNL&PA=70904ned&D1=15%2c157&D2=1-50000&D3=l&LA=EN&HDR=T&STB=G1%2cG2&VW=D |title = Kerncijfers wijken en buurten |trans-title=Key figures for neighbourhoods |language = nl |author =  |date = 20 December 2012 |work = CBS Statline |publisher = CBS |access-date = 2 April 2014}}</ref> ! scope="col" |COROP group |- ! scope="row"|Aa en Hunze |{{nts|25333}} |{{ntsh|93}}93 /km2 (241 /sq mi) |{{ntsh|278.88}}278.88 km2 (107.68 sq mi) | North Drenthe |- ! scope="row"|Assen |{{nts|67209}} |{{ntsh|820}}820 /km2 (2,124 /sq mi) |{{ntsh|83.45}}83.45 km2 (32.22 sq mi) | North Drenthe |- ! scope="row"|Borger-Odoorn |{{nts|25633}} |{{ntsh|94}}94 /km2 (243 /sq mi) |{{ntsh|277.89}}277.89 km2 (107.29 sq mi) | South East Drenthe |- ! scope="row"|Coevorden |{{nts|35771}} |{{ntsh|121}}121 /km2 (313 /sq mi) |{{ntsh|299.69}}299.69 km2 (115.71 sq mi) | South East Drenthe |- ! scope="row"|Emmen |{{nts|108003}} |{{ntsh|324}}324 /km2 (839 /sq mi) |{{ntsh|346.25}}346.25 km2 (133.69 sq mi) | South East Drenthe |- ! scope="row"|Hoogeveen |{{nts|54680}} |{{ntsh|430}}430 /km2 (1,114 /sq mi) |{{ntsh|129.25}}129.25 km2 (49.9 sq mi) | South West Drenthe |- ! scope="row"|Meppel |{{nts|32875}} |{{ntsh|585}}585 /km2 (1,515 /sq mi) |{{ntsh|57.03}}57.03 km2 (22.02 sq mi) | South West Drenthe |- ! scope="row"|Midden-Drenthe |{{nts|33368}} |{{ntsh|98}}98 /km2 (254 /sq mi) |{{ntsh|345.87}}345.87 km2 (133.54 sq mi) | North Drenthe |- ! scope="row"|Noordenveld |{{nts|31110}} |{{ntsh|154}}154 /km2 (399 /sq mi) |{{ntsh|205.32}}205.32 km2 (79.27 sq mi) | North Drenthe |- ! scope="row"|Tynaarlo |{{nts|32506}} |{{ntsh|225}}225 /km2 (583 /sq mi) |{{ntsh|147.7}}147.7 km2 (57.03 sq mi) | North Drenthe |- ! scope="row"|Westerveld |{{nts|18902}} |{{ntsh|69}}69 /km2 (179 /sq mi) |{{ntsh|282.74}}282.74 km2 (109.17 sq mi) | South West Drenthe |- ! scope="row"|{{sortname|De|Wolden}} |{{nts|23592}} |{{ntsh|106}}106 /km2 (275 /sq mi) |{{ntsh|226.35}}226.35 km2 (87.39 sq mi) | South West Drenthe |}

== Demographics ==

{{Historical populations |title = Historical population |type = none |align = right |source = CBS<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=7377vt&D1=0-5,15-16,23,31&D2=0&D3=0-11&HDR=T&STB=G1,G2&VW=L Volkstelling 1899; algemene uitkomsten per gemeente], Statistics Netherlands, 1999. Retrieved on 1 April 2014.</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=71128NED&D1=0&D2=0&D3=a&D4=0-3&HD=140401-1453&HDR=T,G2&STB=G1,G3 Volkstelling 1930; bewoners naar geslacht en geboorteplaats], Statistics Netherlands, 2006. Retrieved on 1 April 2014.</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=37259ned&D1=0&D2=0&D3=7,23-25,710&D4=0,10,20,30,40,50&HD=140401-1449&HDR=T&STB=G2,G1,G3 Bevolkingsontwikkeling; levendgeborenen, overledenen en migratie per regio], Statistics Netherlands, 2013. Retrieved on 1 April 2014.</ref> |1899 |148,544 |1930 |222,432 |1960 |311,196 |1970 |366,590 |1980 |418,479 |1990 |441,028 |2000 |469,806 |2010 |490,981 |2020 |493,682 }}

On 1 January 2023, Drenthe had a total population of 502,051 and a population density of {{convert|191|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="area"/><ref name="population">{{in lang|nl}} [http://statline.cbs.nl/Statweb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=37230ned&D1=0-2,4-5,7-8,13-17&D2=57,85,129,147,189,270,347,351,380,500,551,569&D3=182-194&HDR=G2&STB=G1,T&VW=C Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand], Statistics Netherlands, 2017. Retrieved on 13 February 2017.</ref> It is the 3rd least populous and least densely populated province of the Netherlands, with only Flevoland and Zeeland having fewer people. Emmen is the most populous municipality in the province.

==Religion== In 2015, 23.8% of the population belonged to the Protestant Church in the Netherlands while 9.3% was Roman Catholic, 0.9% was Muslim and 3.6% belonged to other churches or faiths. Over half (62.4%) of the population identified as non-religious. {{Pie chart |thumb = left |caption = Religion in Drenthe (2015)<ref name="religieus">[https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/nieuws/2016/51/helft-nederlanders-is-kerkelijk-of-religieus Helft Nederlanders is kerkelijk of religieus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714153332/https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/nieuws/2016/51/helft-nederlanders-is-kerkelijk-of-religieus |date=14 July 2019 }}, CBS, 22 December 2016</ref> |label1 = Not religious |value1 = 62.4 |color1 = Gray |label2 = Protestant Church in the Netherlands |value2 = 23.8 |color2 = DodgerBlue |label3 = Catholicism |value3 = 9.3 |color3 = DarkOrchid |label4 = Other |value4 = 3.6 |color4 = Turquoise |label5 = Islam |value5 = 0.9 |color5 = Green }}

==Economy== {{unreferenced section|date=June 2015}} Agriculture is an important employer, although industrial areas are found near the cities. The quietness of the province is also attracting a growing number of tourists.

Drenthe is known as the "Cycling Province" of the Netherlands and is an exceptional place for a cycling holiday, having hundreds of kilometers of cycle paths through forest, heath and along canals and many towns and villages offering refreshment along the way. Drenthe exports through the entire Netherlands and also receives supplies and goods from Germany, making it a good business district. Many Dutch and German multinational companies are settled in Drenthe.

The gross domestic product (GDP) of the province was 15.1 billion € in 2018, accounting for 1.9% of the Netherlands economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 26,700 € or 89% of the EU27 average in the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58|title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018|website=Eurostat}}</ref>

== Culture ==

=== Language === Over half the population of Drenthe speaks the Drents dialect.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} Each town or village has its own version. All versions are part of the Low Saxon language group. Dutch Low Saxon has been officially recognised by the Dutch government as a regional language and is protected by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

=== Sports === FC Emmen is the only professional football club in Drenthe. It plays in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie and its home stadium is De Oude Meerdijk.

The Ronde van Drenthe is an elite men's and women's professional road bicycle race that takes place annually in early March.

The TT Circuit Assen hosts the Dutch TT, which is a round of the MotoGP series of the Motorcycle Road Racing World Championship.

=== Museums === Drents Museum is an art and history museum in Assen. It had 227,000 visitors in 2013.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} "[http://www.metronieuws.nl/nieuws/2013-overzicht-bezoekcijfers-musea-in-nederland/SrZmlA!FEEmFa7GMmw0o/ 2013: Overzicht bezoekcijfers musea in Nederland] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728033936/http://www.metronieuws.nl/nieuws/2013-overzicht-bezoekcijfers-musea-in-nederland/SrZmlA!FEEmFa7GMmw0o/ |date=2014-07-28 }}", ''Metro'', 2013. Retrieved on 20 July 2014.</ref>

Museum Collectie Brands is a local museum located in Nieuw-Dordrecht that houses an extensive collection of rare and curious items collected by Jans Brands.

== Politics == thumb|Seat of the provincial government in Assen

The States of Drenthe have 43 seats, and is headed by the King's Commissioner, currently Agnes Mulder. While the provincial council is elected by the people of Drenthe, the Commissioner is appointed by the King and the cabinet of the Netherlands. The daily affairs of the province are taken care of by the {{lang|nl|Gedeputeerde Staten}}, which are also headed by the Commissioner; its members (''gedeputeerden'') can be compared with ministers. {| Class="wikitable" style=" text-align:right;" |+ Provincial election results |-style="text-align:center;" ! colspan="3"| ! colspan="3"|2023 |- style="text-align:center;" ! colspan="3"|Party ! Votes ! style="text-align:right;"|% ! style="text-align:right"|Seats |- |style="background:{{party color|Farmer–Citizen Movement}};" colspan=2 width=2| |align=left|Farmer–Citizen Movement||88,176||33.41||'''17''' |- |style="background:{{party color|Dutch Labour Party}};" colspan=2 width=2| |align=left|Labour Party||24,861||9.42||'''4''' |- |style="background:{{party color|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy}};" colspan=2 width=2| |align=left|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy||20,434||7.74||'''4''' |- |style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Appeal}};" colspan=2 width=2| |align=left|Christian Democratic Appeal||15,563||5.90||'''3''' |- |style="background:{{party color|GroenLinks}};" colspan=2 width=2| |align=left|GroenLinks||14,756||5.59||'''2''' |- |style="background:{{party color|Party for Freedom}};" colspan=2 width=2| |align=left|Party for Freedom||13,681||5.18||'''2''' |- |style="background:{{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}};" colspan=2 width=2| |align=left|ChristianUnion||12,803||4.85||'''2''' |- |style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party (Netherlands)}};" colspan=2 width=2| |align=left|Socialist Party||12,534||4.75||'''2''' |- |style="background:{{party color|Party for the Animals}};" colspan=2 width=2| |align=left|Party for the Animals||11,167||4.23||'''2''' |- |style="background:{{party color|Democrats 66}};" colspan=2 width=2| |align=left|Democrats 66||9,981||3.78||'''1''' |- |style="background:{{party color|Forum for Democracy}};" colspan=2 width=2| |align=left|Forum for Democracy||7,888||2.99||'''1''' |- |style="background:{{party color|Volt Netherlands}};" colspan=2 width=2| |align=left|Volt||7,734||2.93||'''1''' |- |style="background:#FCCC14;" colspan=2 width=2| |align=left|Strong Local Drenthe||7,485||2.84||'''1''' |- |style="background:{{party color|JA21}};" colspan=2 width=2| |align=left|JA21||6,368||2.41||'''1''' |- |style="background:{{party color|Independent}};" colspan=2 width=2| |align=left|All other parties||10,451||3.96||'''0''' |- style="background:#e9e9e9;" | style="text-align:left;" colspan="3"|'''Total valid votes'''||'''263,882'''||'''100.00'''||'''43''' |- style="background:#e9e9e9;" | style="text-align:left;" colspan="3"|Invalid/blank votes||1,155||0.44|| |- style="background:#e9e9e9;" | style="text-align:left;" colspan="3"|'''Total'''||'''265,037'''|||| |- style="background:#e9e9e9;" | style="text-align:left;" colspan="3"|Registered voters/turnout||399,405||66.36|| |- | style="text-align:left;" colspan="12"|Source: Kiesraad<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kiesraad.nl/verkiezingen/adviezen-en-publicaties/proces-verbalen/2023/3/27/proces-verbaal-uitslag-verkiezing-provinciale-staten-drenthe-2023|title=Proces-verbaal uitslag verkiezing Provinciale Staten Drenthe 2023 |publisher=Kiesraad |language=nl |access-date=19 July 2023}}</ref> |}

== Transportation == [[File:Station Meppel.jpg|thumb|The Meppel railway station is a national heritage site<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl/php/main.php?cAction=show&cOBJnr=1002351&sCompMonNr=508721 Monumentnummer: 508721 – Station Meppel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407150357/http://monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl/php/main.php?cAction=show&cOBJnr=1002351&sCompMonNr=508721 |date=7 April 2014 }}, Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed. Retrieved on 3 April 2014.</ref>]]

The motorways A28 (E232), A32, A37 (E233), and the other major roads N33, N34, and N48 are maintained by the state.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.rijkswaterstaat.nl/wegen/feiten_en_cijfers/wegenoverzicht/ Wegenoverzicht] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407063027/http://www.rijkswaterstaat.nl/wegen/feiten_en_cijfers/wegenoverzicht/ |date=7 April 2014 }}, Rijkswaterstaat. Retrieved on 2 April 2014.</ref>

There are four railways partially in the province of Drenthe:

{| class="wikitable" | ! Trajectory !! Railway stations in Drenthe |- |Arnhem–Leeuwarden |''Overijssel'' – Meppel – ''Friesland'' |- |Gronau–Coevorden |''Germany'' – Coevorden |- |Meppel–Groningen |Meppel – Hoogeveen – Beilen – Assen – ''Groningen'' |- |Zwolle–Emmen |''Overijssel'' – Coevorden – Dalen – Nieuw Amsterdam – Emmen Zuid – Emmen |}

Groningen Airport Eelde is a minor international airport located in Eelde in the province of Drenthe. Hoogeveen Airport is a general aviation airport located in Hoogeveen.

== Science and education == [[File:Westerbork Synthese Radio Telescoop.JPG|thumb|Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope]]

ASTRON, the Netherlands institute for radio astronomy, is located near Dwingeloo. Their single-dish radio telescope of the Dwingeloo Radio Observatory was completed in 1956 and is now a national heritage site (''rijksmonument''). Their Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope is an array of fourteen dishes near the village of Westerbork and construction was completed in 1970. Their international Low-Frequency Array with its core near Exloo was completed in 2012.

In Assen, Emmen, and Meppel are universities of applied sciences (''hogescholen''). The Stenden University of Applied Sciences has locations in these three towns, which formed the Drenthe University of Applied Sciences before a merger in 2008. The Hanze Institute of Technology, part of the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, is located in Assen. There are no research universities (''universiteiten'') in the province of Drenthe.

== Media == RTV Drenthe, the regional radio and television station, is based in Assen. The regional daily newspaper for the provinces of Drenthe and Groningen is ''Dagblad van het Noorden'', which is based in the city of Groningen.

== See also ==

* Hunze

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{in lang|nl}} [https://www.drenthe.nl Portal Drenthe], official website *{{Wikivoyage inline|Drenthe}}

Category:Drenthe Category:NUTS 2 statistical regions of the European Union Category:Provinces of the Netherlands Category:States and territories established in 1796