Gorredijk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gorredijk | |||
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| Country |  Netherlands |
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| Province |  Friesland |
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| Population | |||
| - Total | c. 7,000 | ||
Gorredijk (Frisian: de Gordyk) is the biggest town in the municipality of Opsterland, which lies in Friesland, which in turn is a province of the Netherlands. Number of residents: 7.050 (2007).
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[edit] History of Gorredijk
Gorredijk is a relatively old town founded between 1630 and 1640 and has grown thanks to the excavation of peat. In 1672 started the construction of a motte-and-baily around Gorredijk, because of its strategic position to protect Friesland. In 1694 Gorredijk grew bigger and also started the annual market and the cattle-market in the fall and spring. In the beginning of the 18th century Gorredijk grew into a smaller town named Kortezwaag, which later became the name of a district.
At the end of the 18th century started a big growth of Jewish immigrants, which settled there because of the growing economy. They built a synagogue and founded a Jewish cemetery in 1817. The synagogue was demolished in 1953 after the yewish community left Gorredijk to go to Leeuwarden. The cemetery has been maintained with the financial aid of the municipality and is still visitable.
Today the name Gorredijk has a few different ways of being spelled; one of them being Gerdyk.
[edit] Notable residents
Well-known residents of Gorredijk are Hans de Jong, former weather reporter for the NCRV (Dutch TV-channel) and speedway-racer Jannick de Jong.
[edit] Streets, bridges and monuments named after former residents and places
The main bridge in Gorredijk is named Gerk NumanBrug. This bridge was named after a resistance fighter named Gerk Numan got killed by a German Stielhandgranate in 1945, while trying to prevent German soldiers from blowing up the former bridge. The Germans wanted to blow it up to slow down the Canadian infantry and armoured forces. The resistance's attempt failed, the bridge was blown and the remaining fighters had to retreat.
The street called Ra'anana is named after Opsterland's twin town Ra'anana on the southern Sharon Plain in the Center District of Israel, Israel, just 19 km north of Tel Aviv. This town was twinned with Opsterland in 1963.
[edit] List of streets in Gorredijk
't Ikenhiem, 't Kiemke, 't Leantsje, 't Weike, Aak, Oude Singel, Badweg, Blaublomke, Boeier, Brouwerij, Brouwerswal, Burgemeester Selhorststraat, Bûtergers, De Bakkert, De Boster, De Doppen, De Hage, De Helling, De Hoop, De Kalkovens, De Klok, De Knikkert, De Kromten, De Leien, De Morgenster, De Rival, De Slinger, De Tsjerk Hiddes, De Vlecke, De Volharding, De Werf, Dekemalaan, Delling, Dille, Doolhof, Dwarsstraat, Dwarsvaart, Easterein, Fontein, Formanjestraat, Geert van de Zwaagstraat, Goudstjer, Heerenacker, Hegedyk, Hendrik Ringenoldusstraat, Hofland, Hoofdstraat, Houtmoune, Iikmoune, Jan Eisengastraat, Jodocus Heeringastraat, Jol, Kamille, Kerkepad, Kerkewal, Klaproas, Compagnonstraat, Kuiperij, Lammert Heringastraat, Langewal, Leitswei, Lijnbaan, Loaiersstraat, Loevestein, Marktstraat, Mientewei, Molenwal, Mouterij, Nieuwstraat, Nijewei, Nijlân, Overtoom, Parkleane, Parnassia, Prieel, R van Z Bakkerstraat, Ra'anana, Rattelwacht, Roggeblom, Sânstjer, Schansburg, Schoolstraat, Sinneblom, Sjoelstraat, Skûtsje, Spinnerij, Stationsweg, Stokerij, Suster Romkespaad, Tolbaas, Tolhúsleane, Trimbeets, Tsjotter, Wabbe Wissesstraat, Warme Hoek, Watse Eelkesstraat, Welvaren, Wetterkant, Wetterwille, Weverij, Weversblêd, Wolkammerij.
Some of this streets only have a Frisian name, since they were never changed to Dutch.
