Oldambt (municipality)


Oldambt is a municipality with a population of in the province of Groningen in the Netherlands. It was established in 2010 by merging the municipalities of Reiderland, Scheemda, and Winschoten. It contains the city of Winschoten and these villages:
The mayor was Pieter Smit of D66.

History

The municipality of Oldambt was established 1 January 2010, as a merger of the former municipalities of Reiderland, Scheemda and Winschoten. The first mayor of the municipality was Martin Zijlstra, and the current mayor is Cora Yfke Sikkema.

Geography

Oldambt is located at in the northeast of the province of Groningen in the northeast of the Netherlands on the border with Germany. Near Bad Nieuweschans is the easternmost point of the Netherlands. The municipality falls within the region of Oldambt and the western part falls within the region of Rheiderland.
The municipality is bordered by the Dutch municipalities of Delfzijl, Slochteren, Menterwolde, Pekela, and Bellingwedde, and by the German municipalities of Bunde, Jemgum, and Emden.
The municipality contains the city of Winschoten and the villages of Bad Nieuweschans, Beerta, Blauwestad, Drieborg, Finsterwolde, Heiligerlee, Midwolda, Nieuw-Beerta, Nieuwolda, Nieuw-Scheemda, Oostwold, Scheemda, 't Waar, and Westerlee.
In the north of the municipality is part of the Dollart in the Wadden Sea, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009. In the center is the Oldambtmeer, an artificial lake of more than 800 ha.

Demographics

As of, Oldambt has a population of and a population density of.
Oldambt is a developing municipality, in the heart of the region it is building a new housing area with more than 300 houses already: Blauwestad around the artificial lake Oldambtmeer of 800 hectares.

Government

The seat of government is in the city of Winschoten. The mayor is Cora-Yfke Sikkema of Groen Links.

Transportation

The highway A7 connects the municipality to the city of Groningen in the west and Leer in the east. The Harlingen–Nieuweschans railway runs through the municipality with train stations in Scheemda, Winschoten, and Bad Nieuweschans. The trains are currently operated by Arriva and the busses by Qbuzz.
The train stops Heiligerlee and Ulsda were closed in 1934 and 1938.

Hospital

The municipality has de most modern hospital of the province of Groningen, the Ommelander Ziekenhuis Groningen in Scheemda.

Notable people