Balkbrug

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

Balkbrug
Village
House in Balkbrug
Balkbrug Location in province of Overijssel in the Netherlands Show map of Overijssel Balkbrug Balkbrug (Netherlands) Show map of Netherlands
Coordinates: 52°36′2″N 6°23′28″E
Country	Netherlands
Province	Overijssel
Municipality	Hardenberg
Area [1]
• Total	39.26 km2 (15.16 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	7 m (23 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	3,980
• Density	100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	7707[1]
Dialing code	0523

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 [nl] as part of a peat colony.^[3] It is named after a simple type of bridge.^[4] In 1819, a beggar's colony was founded to the south of the village. In 1840, it was home to 1,308 people.^[5] The church was built in 1896.^[3]

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.^[3] Nowadays, it is used as the forensic psychiatry centre.^[5]

In January 2025 inhabitants of Balkbrug won the Dutch Postcode Lottery main prize of €59.7 million.^[6]

Notable people

• Nanno de Groot (1913–1963), American autodidact artist.^[7]

Gallery

• 
  Provisionally repaired bridge (1945)
• 
  Church of Balkbrug
• 
  Veldzicht