What kind of a village is Westergeest? Read about it
below.

Situation
On both sides of Westergeest there are canals, the
Nieuwe Zwemmer in the north and the Stoobosser Trekvaart
on the south side. They cross just past Westergeest.
Because of these waters the village is often visited by
pleasure crafts and is a perfect place for a canoeing
trip.
To the north of Westergeest the
flat clay-landscape starts, while to the south there is
the "elsensingellandschap"
(aldergirdle-landscape) of the "Wouden"
(woods).
The nearest city is Dokkum, at +/- 10 kilometers, but the
weekly shopping is also often done in Kollum or
Kollumerzwaag.

Facilities
Many of the already mentioned pleasure crafts moor at
the "Ljeppershiem", a small ground next to the
canal De Zwemmer. It has a "fierljepschans"
(polevault-jump), playground, swimming pond, canteen for
ice and snacks etc. Pole vault jumping (fierljeppen) is a
very famous sport of Friesland. Also located next to
canal is Camping oan'e Swemmer, one of the two campings
of Westergeest. The name of the other camping is
"Camping de Greidpôlle", and is located at the
other side of Westergeest. The Yacht haven, named "It
skipjagersgat" is only just there, and new also is
the tennis court of the tennis club "TC
Foestrum".
In the center of the village is
"The Fokkema's Pleats". It used to be a
farmhouse but nowadays its has a function as community
centre. A lot of the activity's organized in Westergeest
take place here, but its also used a lot for weddings and
party's.
Of course there is a locale pub, which is also the right
place for snacks.
The locale shop, the last one left, functions as post
agency as well.
Elementary school "De Bining" in the
neigbouring village Triemen takes care of the primary
education. For secondary education youth go to Kollum or
Buitenpost.
Public traffic to and from Westergeest is sometimes a
problem. NoordNed lets a bus end up at the Westergeest
bus stop, for train travel a station is located in
Buitenpost.

Associations and clubs
As in most villages Westergeest has an extensive range
of associations and clubs. Already mentioned is the
tennis club. Also there is a drama club, named "De
bûnte Houn". The most important is Dorpsbelang
(Association for Village Interests).
A lot of clubs cooperate with the neighboring villages,
such as the soccer club "W.T.O.C.", which
stands for Westergeest Triemen Oudwoude Combination, and
the brass-band "De Bazuin", where members are
from Westergeest and Triemen.

Monuments
In Westergeest there are a
number of monuments, the most important being the church.
It was build around 1130, and may be one of the eldest
brick layed buildings of the Netherlands. The church is
known for its centuries old frescos (wall paintings). The
building is still being used for services.
Another monument is the Beintemapoldermolen
(Beintemapolder mill). More information about this mill
can be found here: http://www.tem.nhl.nl/~smits/bpm.htm(sorry,
in dutch only)

Trade and industry
"In the municipality of Kollumerland the working
population is spread over the various sectors as follows:
agriculture 17%, industry 53%, and services 30%. Among
the last two categories are alot of commuters who work
outside the municipality." (source: Information
Guide Municipality of Kollumerland 1994)
Concerning Westergeest can be mentioned: the two
campings, two construction companies, a car-breaker's
yard, the "Koopjespark" (bargain-market), a
yacht-building yard, motorcar company, a lot of companies
I have forgotten, and of course, especially out of the
built-up area, a lot of farming.

Village Anthem
1 |
Wy woll'nou ris sjonge fan ús
doarp in liet,
It sjongen yn 't jong libben docht nou gjin
fertriet.
Wat let it der fredich, ús âld Westergeast,
ja der stiet ús wente, ús hoop en ús treast.
|
Refrein |
Hiel ticht by de wâlden, der
leit Westergeast,
Dat wy fan alle doarpen beminne it meast.
Oeral grutte rûmten, soms ek beamtegrien
Der binn'ús gedachten nou altyd nei gien.
|
2 |
Wy binn'nergens thús oars, as
yn Westergeast.
It hat foar ús bekoaring it aldermeast.
En mei soms ien smale fan 't oerâlde gat,
Wy bliuwe altyd op ús doarpke fersot.
|
3 |
De minsken, dy binne sa
fleurig en blier
En jong en âld halde fan wille en fertier.
En wurdt der soms ratt'le yn ús Westergeast,
Dan binnóare plakken ús meastal ta treast.
|
4 |
Wy bliuwe yn iendracht, rounom
d'âlde toer,
Dy stiet yn it fermidden, sa dreech en sa stoer.
Wer 't wy steeds fan hâlde, 't is ús
Westergeast
Want fêst boppe alles giet ús Westergeast.
|
(Source: De Foestrumer, Dorpskrant
Westergeest, Ybele Steenstra, Melody: "Zie ginds
komt de stoomboot...")
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