Leek, Netherlands
Leek
| |
|---|---|
Town and former municipality | |
Nienoord castle | |
Location in Groningen | |
| Coordinates: 53°10′N 6°23′E / 53.167°N 6.383°E | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | Groningen |
| Municipality | Westerkwartier |
| Merged | 2019 |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.17 km2 (2.38 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 11,175 |
| • Density | 1,800/km2 (4,700/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Leekster |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postcode | 9350–9351 |
| Area code | 0594 |
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Leek (Dutch: [leːk] ⓘ; Gronings: De Laik; West Frisian: De Like) is a village and former municipality in Groningen province in the northeastern Netherlands. The municipality, which bordered the Drenthe and Friesland provinces, was merged into the municipality of Westerkwartier on 1 January 2019.
The village of Leek is approximately 20 km west of Groningen (city) on the A7 (E22) highway.
The village grew around a fortification that was constructed during the Eighty Years' War with Spain. The name 'Leek' was derived from a brook, the "Leke". The town is sometimes also called "De 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, the Leekstermeer (also known as Zulthermeer), with recreational facilities, but the lake is in another municipality and in another province.