Moddergat

Moddergat is a fishing village in Noardeast-Fryslân in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. It had a population of around 221 in January 2017.^[3] Before 2019, the village was part of the Dongeradeel municipality.^[4]

Moddergat
Village
View from the seaside
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname:  Blabberpoepert
Location in the former Dongeradeel municipality
Moddergat Location in the Netherlands Show map of Friesland Moddergat Moddergat (Netherlands) Show map of Netherlands
Coordinates: 53°24′7″N 6°4′57″E
Country	Netherlands
Province	Friesland
Municipality	Noardeast-Fryslân
Area [1]
• Total	1.91 km2 (0.74 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	1.1 m (3.6 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	235
• Density	120/km2 (320/sq mi)
Postal code	9142[1]
Dialing code	0519

The name of the village means 'mud hole' in Dutch and in West Frisian.^[5] Moddergat is twinned with Peazens, and they are often referred to as "Peazens-Moddergat".^[6][4]

In 1883, 17 of the 22 ships of Moddergat were lost at sea during a storm killing 83 fishermen. In 1958, a monument was placed on the sea dike in their honour.^[7]

In 2004, NCRV television organized a competition for most beautiful place in the Netherlands. Moddergat came in second after Weerribben-Wieden National Park.^[4]

History

The village was first mentioned in 1718 as Modde gat, and is supposed to mean "muddy pool".^[8] The village of Peazens was founded first on the new dike along the Wadden Sea. Moddergat was founded later from Peazens, and used to consist of two hamlets: De Kamp and De Oere. The Reformed Church was built in 1912 with a wooden tower.^[6]

In 1840, Moddergat was home to 220 people. Moddergat used to belong to the municipality of Westdongeradeel and Peazens to Oostdongeradeel. In 1983, the municipalities merged.^[4]

Activities

Museum 't Fiskershúske consists of four fishermen's houses, the oldest of which is from 1794, and gives a display of the life and history of the fishers in Moddergat.^[9]

Moddergat is one of the starting points for wadlopen (mudflat hiking). At low tide, it is possible to walk to the island of Schiermonnikoog.^[10] Mudflat hiking is potentially dangerous, and is only allowed under the supervision of a licensed guide.^[11]

Gallery

• 
  Boethuisje [nl], place to leave the fishing nets
• 
  House in Moddergat
• 
  Fisher's monument
• 
  Sunset on the Wadden Sea

References

1. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 31 March 2022. two entries
2. "Postcodetool for 9142DL". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
3. Aantal inwoners per woonplaats in Dongeradeel op 1 januari 2017 Archived 2017-10-21 at the Wayback Machine - Dongeradeel
4. "Paesens-Moddergat". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 March 2022.
5. "Translate Moddergat nl->en". Google. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
6. Ronald Stenvert & Sabine Broekhoven (2000). "Paesens-Moddergat" (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90 400 9476 4. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
7. "Monument omgekomen zeelieden 1883, De Oere, Moddergat". Online Begraafplaatsen (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 March 2022.
8. "Moddergat - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 March 2022.
9. "t Fiskershúske". Museum.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 March 2022.
10. "Wadlopen bij Paesens-Moddergat". Wadlopen Moddergat (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 March 2022.
11. "Verordening van 13 december 1995, houdende regels met betrekking tot het wadlopen (Wadloopverordening 1996)" [1996 law for mudflat hiking] (PDF). Waddenzee (in Dutch). 13 December 1995. Retrieved 31 March 2022.

External links

Media related to Moddergat at Wikimedia Commons