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Grootegast

Grootegast
Municipality
Wind mill in Sebaldeburen
Wind mill in Sebaldeburen
Flag of Grootegast
Flag
Coat of arms of Grootegast
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Grootegast in a municipal map of Groningen
Location in Groningen
Coordinates: 53°13′N 6°17′E / 53.217°N 6.283°E / 53.217; 6.283Coordinates: 53°13′N 6°17′E / 53.217°N 6.283°E / 53.217; 6.283
Country Netherlands
Province Groningen
Government
 • Body Municipal council
 • Mayor Kor Dijkstra (CDA)
Area
 • Total 87.74 km2 (33.88 sq mi)
 • Land 86.78 km2 (33.51 sq mi)
 • Water 0.96 km2 (0.37 sq mi)
Elevation 2 m (7 ft)
Population (February 2017)
 • Total 12,181
 • Density 140/km2 (400/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode 9820–9823, 9860–9869
Area code 0594
Website www.grootegast.nl

Grootegast (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɣroːtəˌɣɑst]) is a municipality and a village in the northeastern Netherlands. It is the sister city of Kingston, Tasmania.

The municipality contains the population centres: Doezum, Enumatil, Faan, Grootegast, Kornhorn, Lutjegast, Niekerk, Oldekerk, Opende, Sebaldeburen. In some of these villages they still speak the West Frisian language.

Grootegast is the main village of the municipality. The name of the village refers to a 'gast' or 'gaast', a higher, sandy ridge in an otherwise swampy area. Groot is Dutch for 'large'.

Grootegast is the birthplace of the theologian Cornelius Van Til.

Lutjegast is a village in the municipality of Grootegast. In the Groningen dialect of Low German 'Lutje' means small or little.

Lutjegast was the birthplace of the explorer Abel Tasman. Although the house of his birth no longer exists, he is memorialised with a monument, plaque and street name.

Until 1829 a mansion named Rikkerdaborg stood in Lutjegast.


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