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'Groningen' is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands with a typical Low Saxon dialect called ''Gronings'' (''Grönnegs'' / ''Grunnegs'' in Gronings regional language), with local nuances. Nowadays, many inhabitants of the province do not speak the dialect, especially in the city of Groningen where many outsiders have moved.
In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen (districts of Leer and Emsland), in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea. Land use in Groningen is mainly agricultural, it has a large natural gas field near Slochteren. Local plans to stir economic development and create a city scene similar to New York are under way; rezoning hearings began in late 2005. East Groningen has been the scene of a particularly fierce class struggle in the 19th and 20th century. Perhaps not coincidentally, Groningen boasts the only municipality (Beerta) where the Dutch Communist party has ever had a mayor (Hanneke Jagersma). The capital of the province is the city of Groningen.

Contents

History

Municipalities

External links

History

Originally a part of Frisia, Groningen became a part of the Frankish Empire around 785. Charlemagne assigned the Christianization of this new possession to Ludger. In the 11th century, the city of Groningen was a village in Drenthe that belonged to the Bishopric of Utrecht, while most of the province was in the diocese of Münster. During the Middle Ages, central control was remote, and the city of Groningen acted as a city state, exerting a domination influence on the surrounding Ommelanden. Around 1500, Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor gave Groningen and Friesland to Albert, Duke of Saxony, who could however not establish permanent control. In 1514/15 Groningen came to the Duchy of Guelders, and in 1536 to the Habsburg Netherlands. In 1594, Groningen was conquered by the United Netherlands, to which it belonged henceforth.

Municipalities

★ Appingedam

★ Bedum

★ Bellingwedde

★ De Marne

★ Delfzijl

★ Eemsmond

★ Groningen

★ Grootegast

★ Haren

★ Hoogezand-Sappemeer

★ Leek

★ Loppersum

★ Marum

★ Menterwolde

★ Pekela

★ Reiderland

★ Scheemda

★ Slochteren

★ Stadskanaal

★ Ten Boer

★ Veendam

★ Vlagtwedde

★ Winschoten

★ Winsum

★ Zuidhorn

External links

★ Website of the Province

★ Flag

★ Website of the Capital City

★ Alternative Website of the Capital City (Local Shops and Small Businesses)

★ Map of Groningen

★ Website of the University

★ Website of the Polytechnic

★ Map of Province