Wijster

{{Infobox settlement | name = Wijster | settlement_type = Village | other_name =  | native_name =  | native_name_lang = nl | image_skyline = File:Voorgevel - Wijster - 20213958 - RCE.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = Farm in Wijster | image_flag = | image_shield = | nickname = | motto =  | map_caption = | image_map1 = Map NL - Midden-Drenthe - Wijster.png | map_caption1 = The town centre (dark green) and the statistical district (light green) of Wijster in the municipality of Midden-Drenthe. | pushpin_map = Netherlands Drenthe#Netherlands | pushpin_label_position = left | pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Netherlands | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Netherlands | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Drenthe | subdivision_type2 = Municipality | subdivision_name2 = Midden-Drenthe | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_party = | coordinates = {{coord|52|48|58|N|6|31|0|E|region:NL_type:city(1000)|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes =

| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |title = Postcodetool for 9418PB |language = nl |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis |access-date = 11 April 2022 }}</ref> | elevation_m = 16 | elevation_min_m = | elevation_max_m = | area_footnotes = <ref name="stat"/> | area_total_km2 = 26.25 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | established_title = | established_date = | population_footnotes = <ref name="stat">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_excel/2021/48/kwb-2021.xls |title=Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 |website=Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=11 April 2022}}</ref> | population_total = 1,085 | population_as_of = 2021 | population_demonym = | population_note = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_density_urban_km2 = auto | timezone = CET | utc_offset = +1 | timezone_DST = CEST | utc_offset_DST = +2 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 9418<ref name="stat"/> | area_code_type = Dialing code | area_code = 0593 }} '''Wijster''' is a village in the Dutch province of Drenthe. It is a part of the municipality of Midden-Drenthe, and lies about 11 km north of Hoogeveen.

== History == The village was first mentioned in 1206 as in Wisnare. The etymology is unknown.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/wijster |title=Wijster |website=Etymologiebank |access-date=11 April 2022 |language=nl}}</ref> Wijster is an ''esdorp'' which developed in the Early Middle Ages as a satellite of Beilen. It used to have no church, but did have a large funnel shaped ''brink'' (village square).<ref name="monument">{{cite book|url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/sten009monu07_01/sten009monu07_01_0103.php |title=Wijster |author=Ronald Stenvert |page=61 |year=2001 |location=Zwolle |publisher=Waanders |isbn=90 400 9454 3 |language=nl |access-date=11 April 2022}}</ref>

Wijster was home to 300 people in 1840.<ref name="plaats">{{cite web|url=https://www.plaatsengids.nl/wijster |title=Wijster |website=Plaatsengids |access-date=11 April 2022 |language=nl}}</ref> The Dutch Reformed church dates from 1929 and is a simple church with a little ridge turret.<ref name="monument"/>

Wijster is best known for its landfill. From 1929 onwards, garbage was dumped in Wijster, and has resulted in {{convert|56|m}} high hill.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historiebeilen.nl/index.php/dorpen/wijster |title=Wijster |website=Historie Beilen |access-date=12 March 2022 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mtbroutes.nl/drenthe/wijster-vam-berg |title=Wijster (VAM-berg) |website=MTB Routes |access-date=12 March 2022 |language=nl}}</ref>

== 1975 train hostage crisis == {{main|1975 Dutch train hostage crisis}}

Wijster was the site of the 1975 Dutch train hostage crisis. In 1949, Indonesia became independent, and the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army was disbanded. The islands of Ambon, Buru, and Seram had fought on side of the Netherlands. They were opposed to a Java-dominated Indonesia, and proclaimed the Republic of South Maluku which resulted in an attack by Indonesia. In 1951, 12,000 refugees from South Maluku were temporarily resettled in the Netherlands. They started to feel betrayed, because it developed into permanent exile.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_ons003197801_01/_ons003197801_01_0127.php |title=Ambon, een blok aan Nederlands been |author=J.H.W. Veenstra |magazine=Ons Erfdeel |year=1978 |pages=511-512 |language=nl |access-date=11 April 2022}}</ref>

On 2 December 1975, the train from Groningen to Zwolle stopped in a field near Wijster. Seven South Moluccans had seized the train and killed the driver. The Dutch government was reluctant to negotiate, and the hijackers tried to kill a passenger, however he managed to escape and after being shot at, pretended to be dead. During the twelve days which followed, two more passengers were shot. Johan Manusama, the former president of the Republic of South Maluku, managed to persuade the hijackers to surrender. In 1976, the hijackers were sentenced to 14 year imprisonment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wijster.info/treinkaping_wijster.php |title=Treinkaping Wijster |website=Wijster.info |access-date=11 April 2022 |language=nl}}</ref>

==Education== There is one primary school, Zuiderenk.<ref name=Schoollist>{{cite web|url=https://www.middendrenthe.nl/onderwijs/scholen|title=Scholen|language=nl|publisher=Midden-Drenthe|accessdate=2023-04-15}}</ref>

==Notable people== *Anjet Daanje (born 1965), author *Nina Gademan (born 2003), racing driver

== Gallery == <gallery> File:HUA-167952-Afbeelding van het storten van huisvuil op het terrein van de VAM Vuil Afvoer Maatschappij te Wijster.jpg|Train unloads its garbage (1954) File:Treinkaping bij Wijster dag 12 (1).jpg|Train hostage crisis of 1975 </gallery>

==References==  <references/>

Category:Midden-Drenthe Category:Populated places in Drenthe