Hoogezand


Hoogezand is a town in the municipality of Midden-Groningen, in the province of Groningen in northeast Netherlands.

History

The name refers to a higher sanded place in the peatlands cut through when the Winschoterdiep channel was dug. Near this channel in 1618 the town was founded.
In the beginning the town was a center of peat briquettes producing. When the peat ran out opened factories for cardboard and plants for potato processing. At the moment Hoogezand is most known for the shipbuilding industry. On the shipyards the vessels are launched sideways, which is uncommon for slipways.
In 1821 Hoogezand absorbed former municipality Windeweer. In 1949 Hoogezand and Sappemeer became one city. At the moment Hoogezand-Sappemeer has 34,438 citizens, around 21,000 of them live in Hoogezand. In 2018, the municipality of Hoogezand-Sappemeer merged with the municipalities of Slochteren and Menterwolde to form the new municipality of Midden-Groningen

Culture

The Nationaal Bus Museum opened its doors in Hoogzand in 2013.

Transportation

Railway station: Hoogezand-Sappemeer
In Western Hoogezand, Martenshoek railway station may be closer.