Leek, Groningen
| Leek | |||
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| Municipality | |||
Nienoord castle
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.svg) Location in Groningen |
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| Coordinates: 53°10′N 6°23′E / 53.167°N 6.383°ECoordinates: 53°10′N 6°23′E / 53.167°N 6.383°E | |||
| Country | Netherlands | ||
| Province | Groningen | ||
| Government | |||
| • Body | Municipal council | ||
| • Mayor | Berend Hoekstra (VVD) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 64.28 km2 (24.82 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 63.33 km2 (24.45 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 0.95 km2 (0.37 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) | ||
| Population (May 2014) | |||
| • Total | 19,626 | ||
| • Density | 310/km2 (800/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Leker | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postcode | 9350–9359, 9810–9819, 9827–9829 | ||
| Area code | 050, 0594 | ||
| Website | leek |
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Leek (Dutch pronunciation: [leːk]; Gronings: De Laik; West Frisian: De Like) is a municipality and a village in the Groningen province in the northeastern Netherlands, bordering on the Drenthe and Fryslân provinces.
The village is approximately 20 km west of Groningen (city) on the A7 (E22) highway.
The village grew around a fortification that was constructed here during the Eighty Years' War with Spain. The name 'Leek' was derived from a brook, the "Leke". The town is sometimes also called "The Leek". In Dutch the people from Leek are called "Leeksters".
Every year around pentecost there is a fair (Pinkstermarkt), drawing thousands of people from the area.
Near the village is a shallow lake, called "Het Leekstermeer" (also called Zulthemeer), with recreational facilities. Actually, the lake is in another municipality and in another province.
The main attraction in the village is the "Nienoord" estate. The estate was founded in 1508. After a destroying fire a new manor-house was built in 1887. The gardens and the shell grotto were restored.
In this manor-house is situated the National Carriage Museum. In 1958 the National Carriage Museum rented the house and gardens. The National Carriage Museum presents an overall view of the various types of carriages and sleighs from the 18th to the 20th century. The 250 coaches in the museum’s collection were used by farmers, the common man, the nobleman and royalty.
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