Hijken | |
---|---|
![]() A farm in Hijken | |
![]() The village centre (dark green) and the statistical district (light green) of Hijken in the municipality of Midden-Drenthe. | |
Coordinates: 52°53′44″N 6°29′48″E / 52.8956°N 6.4967°E | |
Country | Netherlands |
Province | Drenthe |
Municipality | Midden-Drenthe |
Area | |
• Total | 28.12 km2 (10.86 sq mi) |
Elevation | 14 m (46 ft) |
Population (2021)
[1] | |
• Total | 930 |
• Density | 33/km2 (86/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+1 ( CET) |
• Summer ( DST) | UTC+2 ( CEST) |
Postal code | 9415 & 9416
[1] |
Dialing code | 0593 |
Hijken is a village in the Dutch province of Drenthe. It is a part of the municipality of Midden-Drenthe, and lies about 13 km south of Assen, the province capital of Drenthe.
The village was first mentioned in 1370 as "civibus de Hyken". The etymology is unknown. [3] Hijken developed as an esdorp originally without a church in the Early Middle Ages as a satellite of Beilen. In 1858, the Oranjekanaal was dug which cut the village into two halves. [4] It used be a village of shepherds. In 1563, there were 70 sheep for every building. [5]
Hijken was home to 417 people in 1840. [5] In 1906, a Reformed Church was built. In 1915, a steam dairy factory which doubled as grist mill was built. Between 1928 and 1960, it was used as a Dutch Reformed church and is nowadays used by a fodder and fertilizer company. [4] In 2018, the municipality wanted to demolished the bridge over the canal, however protests have resulted in the construction of a new bridge in 2019. [5]
The village is also known for its surrounding Neanderthal settlements. Late Neolithic Hat graves have been discovered dating to a Bronze Age settlement near Hijken. [6]
There is one primary school, ‘t Hieker Nust. [7]
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