Emmen (Netherlands)

Emmen is a municipality and a town in the northeastern Netherlands.

History

A prime example of a planned city, Emmen arose from several small farming and peat-harvesting communities which have dotted the province of Drenthe since the Middle Ages. Traces of these communities can still be seen in the form of the villages of Westenesch, Noordbarge and Zuidbarge: they have a separate history and layout, but are surrounded by the suburbs and the centre of Emmen.

The expansion of the town did not happen until after the Second World War. Suburbs were built around the old centre of Emmen, starting with Emmermeer directly to the north, and followed to the south-east by Angelslo (for which an old village of the same name was demolished), Emmerhout (famed at the time for being separated from the town by an existing forest) to the east, Bargeres, the Rietlanden and Parc Sandur to the south and south-west. Construction of the last suburb, called Delftlanden, is well underway with a large number of homes already built and people living in the area.

There are few historic landmarks left within the town, but those few include the church on the market square, where a church has been standing since the Middle Ages, the court of law building, dating from the beginning of the twentieth century, and the post office from the same time. In the town's environs an earthwork by Robert Smithson, "Broken Circle/Spiral Hill", may be found.

The prime economic booster since the 1980s has been the zoo, the Dierenpark Emmen. Begun in the 1930s, it was almost completely redesigned in the 1970s, and is now co-owned by the municipality of Emmen. It attracts over 1.5 million visitors per year. Important industries include Teijin Aramid, DSM Engineering Plastics, Wellman and Diolen Industrial Fibers. There are extensive glasshouse complexes for horticulture, especially in the Klazienaveen-Erica area. The municipality offers some 38,000 jobs.

Emmen is the second most populous urban area of Drenthe. The municipality of Emmen is one of the largest in area in the Netherlands, although the area outside the town borders of Emmen is rather rural. The only villages of importance are Emmer-Compascuum, Klazienaveen, Nieuw-Amsterdam and Schoonebeek.

Demography

The municipality of Emmen has some 104,000 inhabitants, with 56,000 living in the town Emmen. Compared to some 3,000 inhabitants in the nineteenth century, this illustrates the rapid growth of Emmen in the past 150 years.

Attractions

Veenland Nature Park

The Bargerveen in Veenland Nature Park is perhaps the best kept secret in the Netherlands, with its beautiful orchids, carnivorous plants, sunbathing deer and grass snakes, the calls of the golden orioles and the Eurasian hobby hunting dragonflies. You will see them all in the only untouched large-scale peat moor in the Netherlands. The Veenloopcentrum in Weiteveen is a great place to start exploring the Veenland Nature Park. An experienced guide will show you the most beautiful spots and hear impressive tales. Go by foot or by bike to discover the secrets of the floating bogs, the exceptional forests and culturally historic traces of the bog formation. The Forestry Commission’s Veenexpress makes the Bargerveen accessible for the disabled.

WILDLANDS Adventure Zoo Emmen

Take a world expedition in one day. In WILDLANDS Adventure Zoo Emmen you can travel the jungle, the savannah and the polar region. As a true explorer, you will discover new worlds, come face to face with wild animals and experience exciting adventures. The trek through the jungle starts in overgrown temple ruins where hundreds of butterflies fly free in the open air. Discover the Rimbula River rapids by boat and cross the river in a basket past swimming elephants. The world of the savannah is hot and dry; go on a real truck safari past the giraffes. In the polar region, you can experience the spectacular 4D ride in the Artic1. There you will meet polar bears, penguins, fur seals, and many more. A worldly adventure!

Sport

The town's football club FC Emmen plays their home games in JenS Vesting. They play in the Eerste Divisie.

Every year a big cycle racing criterium called Gouden Pijl, where all the big names in bicycle sport come to Emmen for this event. Besides the bicycle race itself the Gouden Pijl also includes cultural events like pop-concerts etc. In 2008 the comeback concert of The Schizo's, the infamous local punk-band from the 1980s, was organized during the Gouden Pijl.