UDTR Global Rights of Nature Radar

Isolated and backward Westerwolde (Groningen, the Netherlands)? A confrontation of archaeological and historical data from the Middle Ages in a wider geographical context

Identification

Public canonical key

doi:10.21827/602fcb755de5e

Authors

Henny A. Groenendijk · van Remi Schaik

Reported year

2021

Reported language

en

Source type

article

First detected

2026-11-09T19:04:47.795152+00:00

Last metadata observation

2026-11-09T19:04:47.795152+00:00

Last HTTP verification

Not checked

Institutions reported by the source

University of Groningen

Reported affiliation countries

NL

Documentary abstract — original language

The aim of this paper is to question the supposed isolated and backward position of the region of Westerwolde, in the north-eastern part of the Netherlands. Westerwolde’s geographically rather isolated position has traditionally been brought forward to explain its backward image. Progressive peat growth ever since the Bronze Age occupation had transformed Westerwolde into an island. It was abandoned in the Late Iron Age, only to be recolonized in the early Middle Ages. During the 19th century, romantics were still admiring Westerwolde’s arcadian scenery and cultural traditions. In contrast, from the mid-19th century until well into the 20th century, protagonists of modern agriculture criticized its backward farming methods and standard of living, as well as its poor infrastructure. The central issues we address here is whether critics were justified in describing it as backward in the 19th century and whether concrete indications for this assumed backwardness are to be found in previous centuries. To jump from early medieval times to the 19th century is too big a leap, but combining archaeological and ecological data with a renewed and more critical study of written sources against the background of huge landscape transformations has brought a nuanced understanding of how Westerwolde evolved. We present new insights for the period starting with the conquest of Frisia and Saxony by the Carolingians and the introduction of Christianity, when missionaries and newly founded monasteries acquired agricultural assets and rights in the conquered region, up to the late Middle Ages. We therefore analyze church foundations, livelihoods or economic conditions of existence in connection with occupation structures, infrastructure and exchange of consumer goods interdisciplinarily. Conservatism appears easily confused with backwardness, and an aversion to innovation, with indifference, as underlying external factors often forced the inhabitants to adopt a wait-and-see attitude. Westerwolde is viewed continuously in connection with the adjacent regions of Drenthe and Lower Saxon Emsland.

Identifiers

OPENALEX

W3173515881

DOI

10.21827/602fcb755de5e

Documentary context

Documentary family

Scholarship

Source-reported types

article

Jurisdictions studied — explicit sources

NL

Natural entities mentioned

Landscape

Entity mentions are not evidence of legal recognition. Jurisdiction studied is separate from author affiliation country.

Sources

OpenAlex · Record 1 · Record 2

• DOI · https://doi.org/10.21827/602fcb755de5e
• OpenAlex · https://openalex.org/W3173515881

Documented bibliographic relations

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• openalex:w2033736196 · CITES
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• openalex:w2517984011 · CITES
• openalex:w2518537861 · CITES
• openalex:w2564768790 · CITES
• openalex:w2567448800 · CITES

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Documentary status

Relevance pending

Library

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