Ossenzijl (Dutch Low Saxon: Ossenziel) is a village in the municipality Steenwijkerland of the Dutch province of Overijssel. It started as a sluice owned by the Osse family. It is an entry point to the Weerribben-Wieden National Park.

Ossenzijl
Village
View on the village
Ossenzijl Location in the Netherlands Show map of Overijssel Ossenzijl Ossenzijl (Netherlands) Show map of Netherlands
Coordinates: 52.8084°N 5.9173°E / 52.8084; 5.9173
Country	Netherlands
Province	Overijssel
Municipality	Steenwijkerland
Area [1]
• Total	15.67 km2 (6.05 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	−0.4 m (−1.3 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	565
• Density	36/km2 (93/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	8376[1]
Dialing code	0561

History

The village was first mentioned in 1437 as Ossenzyle, and refers to a sluice which was owned by the Osse family.[3][4] The original sluice was destroyed in 1570, and rebuilt in 1790. Ossenzijl developed into a harbour village for peat export.[4] In 1840, it was home to 281 people.[5] In 1930, the sluice was removed.[3] Several small windmills have been built on the edge of the Weerribben,[4] including two tjaskers, little windmills for drainage.[6][7]

Ossenzijl serves as one of the entry points to the Weerribben, a large bog, and the Frisian Lakes.[8] After World War II, the village became a tourist destination. Many of the houses were rebuilt as a holiday homes,[4] and a marina was added to the village.[5] The Weerribben was declared a national park in 1992. In 2009, De Wieden was added forming a 105 square kilometres (41 sq mi) nature area.[9]

Notable people

• Richard Veenstra (born 1981), darts player[10]

Gallery

• 
  Village street
• 
  Tjasker
• 
  Little Rehoboth church
• 
  Well statue by Hanneke Pereboom [nl]

References

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