History Opsterland

Opsterland today is known for its beautiful forests. But, these forests are still quite young and were established from the late ^18th century and early ^19th century. Before then, the landscape consisted of open plains with large moors and inaccessible moors. Along the river It Alddjip the villages were scattered.

Peat mining and landscape change

In the ^18th century, the high moor in Opsterland was dug away on a large scale by peat companies. Peat canals and channels were dug to drain the peat, which drastically changed the landscape. Villages such as Gorredijk, Bakkeveen and present-day Frieschepalen arose during this time. Older villages, such as Luxwoude, Beetsterzwaag, Terwispel and Lippenhuizen, were mainly farming villages, focused on arable farming and animal husbandry. Cows and sheep were kept mainly for manure; hay for livestock came from the uninhabited western areas (hay roads).

Low bog mining and migration

In the 19th century, low moors were also excavated, especially in the western parts of the municipality. Many workers came from the head of Overijssel, the so-called Gietersen. They laid the foundation for villages like Tijnje and Nij Beets. Names such as Bron, Lok, Krikke and Schokker still remind us of these migrants. The reclamation created large ponds, which were later reclaimed in the ^19th and ^20th centuries and came into use as pastures.

Poverty and governance

The peat excavations brought great poverty and social unrest, especially around Tijnje and Nij Beets. The name Domela Nieuwenhuis is inextricably linked to this history. In Beetsterzwaag lived the wealthy families of the peat companies, such as Fockens, Van Teijens and Lycklama á Nijeholt.

The families of the peat companies also played an important role in the local administration of the grietenij. A grietenij is the predecessor of the municipality and a grietman was its judge and administrator. At first there were two grietmannen in Opsterland, one on each side of the Alddjip. From 1550 until 1692 there is only one grietman. However, both Beetsterzwaag and Lippenhuizen each had a courtroom until the end of the ^18th century, where the grietman administered justice. 

Beetsterzwaag: Heart of Opsterlands governance

Beetsterzwaag has long been an important location for Opsterland's administration, since the grietman lived here, and the municipal administration and the municipal secretary (office where administrative work for a municipality is performed) were located here. With the exception of the French era, when the municipal secretariat was located in Gorredijk. So Beetsterzwaag has always played an important role as the historical location of what is now called the Municipality of Opsterland.

The history of Opsterland is not one of much warfare. But in 1231 the Frisians and the Drents did battle each other at Bakkeveen. There were also raids and plundering during the 80-year war, and in 1672 and 1673, soldiers staying in Opsterland caused a nuisance. These are only a few skirmishes in the long history of Opsterland. 

Visible memories

Visible reminders of exciting times are the entrenchments on the borders, at Frieschepalen, (the still existing Zwartendijksterschans) and at the Breeberg south of Wijnjewoude. In 1673 all of Gorredijk became a fortress, from which the cultural center/sporthall "De Skâns" takes its name.