Drechterland

Drechterland is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia. The municipality was formed in 1979, in a merger of the former municipalities of Hoogkarspel, Westwoud and Oosterblokker. Its original name, Bangert, was changed to "Drechterland" in 1980. In 2006, the former municipality of Venhuizen was added to Drechterland.

Population centres
The municipality of Drechterland consists of the following towns, villages and districts: • Hem

• Hoogkarspel

• Oosterblokker

• Oosterleek

• Oosterwijzend

• Schellinkhout

• Venhuizen

• Westerwijzend

• Westwoud

• Wijdenes

Topography


Dutch topographic map of the municipality of Drechterland, June 2015

Local government
The municipal council of Drechterland consists of 17 seats, which after the 2022 municipal election divided as follows:


 * Senior Party, Drechterland – 4 seats
 * Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) – 4 seats
 * Progressive Drechterland – 3 seats
 * People's Party for Freedom & Democracy (VVD) – 3 seats
 * Municipal interests, Drechterland – 3 seats

Notable people

 * Jan Jacobszoon May van Schellinkhout (17th c., born in Schellinkhout) a Dutch seafarer and explorer, eponym of Jan Mayen
 * Cornelis Jacobsen Mey (17th c., born in Schellinkhout) a Dutch explorer, captain and fur trader
 * Wilhelmus Nuyens (1823 in Avenhorn – 1894) a Dutch historian.
 * Vincent Mentzel (born 1945 Hoogkarspel) a Dutch newspaper photographer, embraces photorealism

Sport

 * Hendrik Offerhaus (1875 in Venhuizen – 1953) a Dutch rower and bronze medallist in the 1900 Summer Olympics
 * Mathieu Boots (born 1975 in Venhuizen) a Dutch retired football player with over 250 club caps
 * Thomas Koenis (born 1989 in Hoogkarspel) a Dutch professional basketball player
 * Erik Schouten (born 1991 in Westwoud) a Dutch professional footballer with 140 caps with FC Volendam