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Finsterwolde (The Netherlands)

Reiderland municipality, Groningen province

by Jarig Bakker, 17 Jul 2003
Adopted 17 Jul 1961

See also:

Finsterwolde former municipality

Finsterwolde is a former municipality, since 1 Jan 1992 part of Reiderland in east Groningen province in the Netherlands. This area is part of the Dollard-area; the Dollard is a large inlet on the border of the Netherlands and Germany, and scene of a constant battle between sea and man. When in the 17th-19th century the marshy area of southeast Groningen was exploited many laboureres from elsewhere were imported to do the peat-digging. After that process was finished the labourers were no longer needed, and many were resettled f.i. in Finsterwolde, where they could find jobs as farm-hands. However there were not enough jobs, and the payment was rather low. This led in the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century to a social movement, which connected to the Dutch Communist movement. The most notable leader was Fré Meijs, who with his charisma dominated Finsterwolde for decades in the second part of last century. 80 - 90 % of the population voted CPN (Communistische Partij Nederland), and after the Soviet Union was dissolved and the CPN merged into the GroenLinks
(Green) party the Finsterwolders first voted VCN (Vereninging van Communisten in Nederland, the new communist party), and after that was