Langezwaag
Langezwaag (Langsweagen) is located on the road from Gorredijk to Heerenveen. The village lies on the border between sandy and peaty soil. The village is surrounded by meadows with tree walls and trees. Langezwaag is located in the southwestern tip of the municipality of Opsterland.
Peat and agriculture
Around 1550, the Heeren Compagnie in Heerenveen began excavating high peat. They dug the Skoatterlânske Kompanjonsfeart (Schoterlandse Compagnonsvaart) with many tributaries to transport peat to Holland. The main road ran from east to west, from Heerenveen via Luxwoude and Langezwaag to Gorredijk. This Hegedyk was not only a road, but also a dike to hold back the water. North of the Hegedyk, large pools formed after the peat was excavated. By building dikes, these pools were drained and made suitable for agriculture and pastures. The name Langezwaag refers to the elongated pieces of land (zwagen) that used to run from the small river Oude Ee in the north to beyond the Skoatterlânske Kompanjonsfeart in the south.
Farm Life
Langezwaag is one of the older villages in the municipality of Opsterland. These villages were inhabited mainly by farmers, who grew mainly rye and buckwheat. They also had cows and sheep, which were mainly kept for manure.
