Balkbrug

Balkbrug is a village in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is located in the municipality Hardenberg, about 5 km west of Dedemsvaart.

History
Balkbrug is located where the road from Ommen splits into a road to Meppel and Leeuwarden, and a road to Hoogeveen and the city of Groningen. In 1599, a redoubt was constructed in Ommerschans, south of Balkbrug. The village appeared in 1811 along the Dedemsvaart (canal) as part of a peat colony. It is named after a simple type of bridge. In 1819, a beggar's colony was founded to the south of the village. In 1840, it was home to 1,308 people. The church was built in 1896.

In 1893/94, the beggar's colony was turned into the state educational institution Veldzicht, a prison for young offenders. In 1911, it was enlarged and became the largest of the Netherlands. Nowadays, it is used as the forensic psychiatry centre.

Notable people

 * Nanno de Groot (1913–1963), American autodidact artist.