Editing Goeree-Overflakkee

{{More citations needed|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- Name and transliteration -->
| name                    = Goeree-Overflakkee
| settlement_type         = Island and [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = Goedereede boven.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = View over [[Goedereede]]
| image_flag              = Goeree-Overflakkee gemeentevlag.svg
| flag_size               = 100x67px
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Goeree Overflakee wapen.svg
| shield_size             = 100x80px
| shield_alt              = 
<!-- Maps, coordinates -->
| image_map               = Map - NL - Municipality code 1924 (2019).svg
| map_alt                 = Highlighted position of Goeree-Overflakkee in a municipal map of South Holland
| map_caption             = Location in South Holland
| coordinates             = {{coord|51|45|N|4|10|E|region:NL|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[South Holland]]
| established_title       = Established
| established_date        = 1 January 2013<ref>{{cite web 
 |url = http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/methoden/classificaties/overzicht/gemeentelijke-indeling/2013/default.htm
 |title = Gemeentelijke indeling op 1 januari 2013
 |trans-title=Municipal divisions on 1 January 2013
 |language = nl
 |website = cbs.nl
 |publisher = [[Statistics Netherlands|CBS]]
 |access-date = 20 July 2013}}</ref>
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="mayor_now">{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.goeree-overflakkee.nl/gemeente/collegeleden_3185/
 |title       = Collegeleden
 |trans-title=Members of the board
 |language    = nl
 |publisher   = Gemeente Goerree-Overflakkee
 |access-date  = 20 July 2013
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130305220905/http://www.goeree-overflakkee.nl/gemeente/collegeleden_3185/
 |archive-date = 5 March 2013
}}</ref>
| governing_body          = [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|Municipal council]]
| leader_party            = [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]
| leader_title            = [[Burgemeester|Mayor]]
| leader_name             = Ada Grootenboer-Dubbelman
<!-- Geographic information -->
| unit_pref               = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref>{{Dutch municipality total area|dataref}}</ref>
<!-- square kilometers -->
| area_total_km2          = {{Dutch municipality total area|Goeree-Overflakkee}}
| area_land_km2           = {{Dutch municipality land area|Goeree-Overflakkee}}
| area_water_km2          = {{Dutch municipality water area|Goeree-Overflakkee}}
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool 
 |title=Postcodetool for 3241LB 
 |language=nl 
 |work=Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland 
 |publisher=Het Waterschapshuis 
 |access-date=20 July 2013 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053543/http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool 
 |archive-date=21 September 2013 
}}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 1
| elevation_max_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_max_m         =
| elevation_min_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_min_m         =
<!-- Population, demographics -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref>{{Dutch municipality population|dataref}}</ref>
| population_total        = {{Dutch municipality population|Goeree-Overflakkee}}
| population_as_of        = {{MONTHNAME|{{Dutch municipality population|popbasemonth}}}} {{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}
| population_density_km2  = {{Dutch municipality population density|Goeree-Overflakkee}} <!-- For automatic calculation: auto-->
| population_demonym      = 
<!-- Other information -->
| timezone1               = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1             = +1
| timezone1_DST           = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code             = 3240–3258
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code               = 0187
| website                 = {{URL|1=http://www.goeree-overflakkee.nl}}
| footnotes               =
}}
[[File:Gem-Goeree-Overflakkee-OpenTopo.jpg|255px|thumb|''Map of Goeree-Overflakkee, June 2015'']]
[[File:RMSDeltaNorth.jpg|255px|thumb|Satellite image of the Scheldt delta. The island of Goeree-Overflakkee (1) is only partly shown.]]
'''Goeree-Overflakkee''' ({{IPA|nl|ɣuˌreː ˈoːvərflɑˌkeː}}) is the southernmost [[river delta|delta]] [[island]] of the [[Provinces of the Netherlands|province]] of [[South Holland]], [[Netherlands]]. It is separated from [[Voorne-Putten]] and [[Hoeksche Waard]] by the [[Haringvliet]], from the mainland of [[North Brabant]] by the [[Volkerak]], and from [[Schouwen-Duiveland]] by Lake [[Grevelingen]].

Since 2013, Goeree-Overflakkee has also been a municipality consisting, from west to east, of the former municipalities of [[Goedereede]], [[Dirksland]], [[Middelharnis]], and [[Oostflakkee]]. The largest towns are Sommelsdijk, Middelharnis, [[Ouddorp]], and Dirksland.

Despite being part of the province of South Holland, the island's scenery and dialect are more closely related to [[Zeeland]] than to [[Holland]]. On the island they speak a form of [[Zeelandic]], namely {{Interlanguage link multi|Goereês|zea}} in the west and {{Interlanguage link multi|Flakkees|zea}} in the east.

==History==
The island was detached from the mainland when the Haringvliet formed as a result of two major flooding events. The first was in 1216, which breached the dunes of [[Voorne-Putten|Voorne]] and created a deep saltwater inlet. In the [[St. Elizabeth flood]]s of 1421, this inlet connected to the [[Merwede]] and became an important estuary of the [[Rhine]] and [[Meuse (river)|Meuse]] rivers.

== Politics ==
The [[municipal council (Netherlands)|municipal council]] of Goeree-Overflakkee has of 31 members which,  after the [[2022 Dutch municipal elections|2022 municipal elections]], were divided as follows:<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 March 2022 |title=Goeree-Overflakkee municipal election 2022 |url= https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/731135|access-date=21 February 2024|website=www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl|language=nl}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Municipal council seats
! Party
! 2022
|-
| [[Reformed Political Party]] (SGP) || 7
|-
| Vitale Kernen Goeree Overflakkee (VKGO) || 7
|-
| [[Christian Democratic Appeal]] (CDA) || 6 
|-
| Group Jan Zwerus || 4
|-
| [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] (VVD) || 2
|-
| [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|Labour Party]] (PvdA) || 2
|-
| [[ChristianUnion]] (CU) || 2
|-
| D66 || 1
|-
!Total
!31
|}

== Former municipalities ==

=== Goedereede ===
[[File:LocatieGoedereede.png|255px|thumb|Goedereede]]
From west to east the former municipality of [[Goedereede]] consists of [[Ouddorp]] (with [[Oostdijk, South Holland|Oostdijk]]), Goedereede (with [[Havenhoofd]]), and [[Stellendam]]. Income comes mainly of tourism and fishery. With a long beach nearby, Ouddorp is a tourist attraction and has a number of camping sites. Goedereede and Stellendam both have an extended fishing fleet. The town of Goedereede has many old buildings and a tall church tower. Goedereede is one of two towns on the island that obtained city rights. Stellendam was hit hard in the [[North Sea flood of 1953|1953 storm flood]] and several monuments in the town commemorate this tragedy. Next to Stellendam lies the [[Haringvlietdam]] which shelters the [[Haringvliet]] from the North Sea, this dam is part of the [[Delta Project]]. On the island side of the dam a 'Delta Expo' provides a guide to the dam.

=== Dirksland ===
[[File:LocatieDirksland.png|255px|thumb|Dirksland]]
The former municipality of [[Dirksland]] consisted of [[Melissant]], [[Herkingen]], and Dirksland. The 1953 flood did not have such an effect on these places, as they are mainly lie on higher ground than the rest of the island. Dirksland was the biggest of the three and also has the only hospital on the island. The Van Weel-Bethesda hospital is one of the smallest in the country, but has an excellent reputation, confirmed by national hospital grade polls. Dirksland is recognizable from a distance by the biggest water tower of the country. The towns are agriculturally focused and also have several camp sites. Dirksland has an inland harbor with a newly restored gate complex. Herkingen lies on the south side of the island and borders the Grevelingenmeer, a saltwater lake that has been disconnected directly from the North Sea by the [[Brouwersdam]], but still connects to the Oosterschelde which is saltwater. The [[Grevelingenmeer]] is a large watersports area with the main recreational areas on Schouwen-Duiveland. Herkingen is trying to join in with the tourism industry and has quite a large yachting harbor. The town of Herkingen currently hosts several of the biggest modern windmills in the country.

=== Middelharnis ===
[[File:LocatieMiddelharnis.png|255px|thumb|Middelharnis]]
The former municipality of [[Middelharnis]], forming the center of the island, was the biggest of the four with over 17,000 inhabitants. It consisted of [[Sommelsdijk]], Middelharnis, [[Nieuwe-Tonge]], and [[Stad aan 't Haringvliet]]. Middelharnis has a shopping area called ''D'n Diek''. This shopping center settled itself on a dike which used to be the last barrier for the towns from the Haringvliet. Now extensive, this dike and the area is enjoying a huge face lift. On Fridays in the summer months, there are what are called the Diekdagen (Dike days in English), with special activities like sports car racing and bicycle racing in the middle of the town. The town hosts a public high school and a Christian high school. Middelharnis has an inland harbor with a connection to the Haringvliet. In Middelharnis the old municipality building lies on the main street. In Sommelsdijk there is a sport complex with swimming pool, called ''De Staver''. Stad aan 't Haringvliet has a small harbor with a beach. Like most of the towns on the island the old windmill has been preserved. Nieuwe-Tonge's main entry roads are the two dikes that form the edges of the town.

=== Oostflakkee ===
[[File:LocatieOostflakkee.png|255px|thumb|Oostflakkee]]
The former municipality of [[Oostflakkee]] consists of: [[Den Bommel]] (with Zuidzijde), [[Oude-Tonge]], [[Ooltgensplaat]], [[Achthuizen]], and [[Langstraat]]. Oude-Tonge was the main town of the former municipality with a considerable industrial area. It also has a large bus station. Oude-Tonge suffered most in 1953 flood and was visited by the queen in 2003 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of this event. Den Bommel has a harbor and beach on the shores of the Haringvliet. A few kilometres east of Den Bommel is Zuidzijde, a very small town. Ooltgensplaat is the most eastward town on the island with a harbor on the Volkerak. The town has a very old municipal building. This town hosts the start and finish of De Omloop – an annual 100+ km walk around the island within a 24-hour period. It is held in the latter half of August and attracts thousands, both participants and spectators. Achthuizen and Langstraat are other small towns nearby Ooltgensplaat.

== Notable people ==
[[File:Pierre Frederic de la Croix - Portrait of his son in law, Jan van Os.jpg|140px|thumb|Jan van Os, 1776]]
* [[Jan van Os]] (1744 in Middelharnis – 1808) a Dutch painter
* [[Laurens J. Bol]] (1898 in Ooltgensplaat – 1994) an art historian, specialized in [[Dutch Golden Age]] painters
* [[Aart Alblas]] (1918 in Middelharnis – 1944 in Mauthausen concentration camp) highly decorated Dutch resistance member
* [[Tomas Ross (writer)|Tomas Ross]] (born 1944 in Den Bommel) a Dutch writer of historical criminal thrillers
* [[Elco Brinkman]] (born 1948 in Dirksland) a retired Dutch politician and businessman. 
* [[Toine van Peperstraten]] (born 1967 in Achthuizen) a Dutch sports journalist<ref> [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1284057/  IMDb Database] retrieved 06 July 2019 </ref>
* [[Barbara Baarsma]] (born 1969) a Dutch economist, grew up in Goeree-Overflakkee
* [[Liesbeth Zegveld]] (born 1970 in Ridderkerk) a Dutch lawyer, legal expert and professor
=== Sport ===
* [[Jan Pieterse]] (born 1942 in Oude-Tonge) a former professional racing cyclist, gold medallist in the Men's 100 km Team Trial at the [[1964 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Arie Luyendyk]] (born 1953 in Sommelsdijk) a Dutch former auto racing driver, winner of the 1990 and 1997 [[Indianapolis 500]] races
* [[Juliette Bergmann]] (born 1958 in Vlaardingen) a Dutch female bodybuilding champion
* [[Annemarieke van Rumpt]] (born 1980 in Middelharnis) a rower, bronze medallist with the Dutch eights in the [[2004 Summer Olympics]]

==Gorée in Senegal==
The island of [[Gorée]] in [[Senegal]], notorious in the 18th century as a center for the [[History of slavery|slave trade]], got its name from the Dutch Goeree at the time when it was ruled by the Netherlands (from 1588 to 1664).

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode=packed>
File:De Hervormde kerk van Nieuwe-Tonge..JPG|Reformed Church at Nieuwe-Tonge
File:Lighthouse Goedereede.jpg|Lighthouse at Goedereede
File:Op de Kaai in Oude-Tonge..JPG|Quay in Oude-Tonge
File:Haven van Herkingen - Herkingen - 20535646 - RCE.jpg|Port at Herkingen
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.goeree-overflakkee.nl/ }}

<!--Please note that not all directions need to be filled-->
<!--Please note that preferably only neighboring municipalities or bodies of water should be used-->
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Goeree-Overflakkee
|North     = [[Voorne aan Zee]], [[Nissewaard]]<br>''[[Haringvliet]]''
|Northeast = [[Hoeksche Waard (municipality)|Hoeksche Waard]]<br>''[[Haringvliet]]''
|East      = ''[[Volkerak]]'' / [[Moerdijk]]{{space}}([[North Brabant|NB]])
|Southeast = ''[[Volkerak]]''<br>[[Steenbergen]]{{space}}([[North Brabant|NB]])
|South     = ''[[Grevelingen]]''<br>[[Schouwen-Duiveland]]{{space}}([[Zeeland|ZE]]), [[Tholen]]{{space}}([[Zeeland|ZE]])
|West      = ''[[North Sea]]''
}}
{{Dutch municipality Goeree-Overflakkee}}
{{South Holland Province}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Goeree-Overflakkee| ]]
[[Category:Islands of South Holland]]
[[Category:Municipalities of South Holland]]
[[Category:Municipalities of the Netherlands established in 2013]]
[[Category:Regions of South Holland]]
[[Category:Regions of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta]]
[[Category:Islands of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta]]