Borger (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbɔrɣər]) is a village in the Dutch province of Drenthe. It is a part of the municipality of Borger-Odoorn, and lies about 18 km east of Assen.

Borger
Village
Willibrordskerk in 2009
Borger Location in the province of Drenthe in the Netherlands
Coordinates: 52°55′N 6°48′E
Country	Netherlands
Province	Drenthe
Municipality	Borger-Odoorn
Area [1]
• Total	15.77 km2 (6.09 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	16 m (52 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	4,885
• Density	310/km2 (800/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	9530–9531[1]
Dialing code	0599

The hunebed dolmen D27 [nl] is the biggest hunebed of the Netherlands and has its own museum.

History

The village was first mentioned in 1327 as "Johannes in Borghere". The etymology is unclear.[3] Borger is an esdorp which developed in the Early Middle Ages on the Hondsrug along the road from Groningen to Coevorden. In the early 13th century a daughter church was established from Anloo. Borger became the main settlement, and three satellites were established around the village: Buinen, Drouwen and Westdorp.[4]

The tower of the Dutch Reformed church dates from the 14th century and has been restored in 1840. The medieval church was replaced in 1826.[4] There is an original sheep pen from the 18th century in Borger.[4]

Borger was home to 519 people in 1840.[5] In 1958, the open air theatre opened in Borger and can seat 600 people.[6]

Borger used to be an independent municipality. In 1998, it was merged into Borger-Odoorn.[5]

Dolmen

The hunebed dolmen D27 [nl] is the biggest hunebed of the Netherlands. It measures 22.5 metres (74 ft) and has 9 capstones, 26 side stones and 2 keystones. The hunebed contains a complete gate. In 1865, amateur excavation was performed by Titia Brongersma who discovered pottery and many bones, however none of the artefacts remain.[7]

In 1984, a local youth found some pottery and bones. The artefacts were analysed and surprisingly dated from the Bronze Age which was much later than expected. There were calls for a scientific investigation of the site, however the archaeologists in charge of the area have blocked an investigation. In 2005, a museum opened near the site.[7]

There are two more smaller dolmen (D28 and D29) around Borger.[5] Copper objects have been discovered near D28 which are the oldest discoveries of copper in the Netherlands and must have been made in Romania.[8]

Notable people

• Egbert Schuurman, philosopher and politician
• Henk G. Sol, business theorist

Gallery

• 
  Summer house
• 
  Hof van Saksen
• 
  Tumulus in Borger
• 
  Hunebed (dolmen) D27

References

External links

• Media related to Borger at Wikimedia Commons