Geesbrug

Geesbrug is a village in the Netherlands and is part of the Coevorden municipality in Drenthe.

Geesbrug
Village
Bridge at Geesbrug
Geesbrug Show map of Drenthe Geesbrug Show map of Netherlands
Coordinates: 52°43′40″N 6°38′2″E
Country	Netherlands
Province	Drenthe
Municipality	Coevorden
Area [1]
• Total	19.01 km2 (7.34 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	15 m (49 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	1,355
• Density	71/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	7917[1]
Dialing code	0524

Geesburg was first mentioned in 1913, and means the bridge near Gees.^[3]

Work Camp Geesburg

Work Camp Geesburg was built in the 1930s for the unemployed.^[4] In 1942, it was used as a Jewish forced labour camp to cultivate the land. They were later moved to Westerbork transit camp.^[5]

In 1949, Indonesia became independent, and the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army was disbanded. The islands of Ambon, Buru, and Seram had fought on side of the Netherlands, and proclaimed the Republic of South Maluku which resulted in an attack by Indonesia. In 1951, 12,000 refugees from South Maluku were temporarily resettled in the Netherlands.^[6] A group of refugees was resettled in Camp Geesbrug. The camp is nowadays in use as a pig farm.^[7]