Muntendam
Encyclopedia
Muntendam is a town in the Dutch
province of Groningen
, municipality
Menterwolde
.
Until 1990 it was a separate municipality, which boasted the title 'reddest (most socialist) municipality in the Netherlands
', with a council of 11 containing 7 PvdA (Labour Party) members and 2 CPN
(Communist Party) members. (However, nearby Reiderland
had had a vast CPN majority since WWII
, so the claim is rather too strong). When a new mayor had to be appointed in 1980 (at the time a municipality had no say in the matter), it was assumed that it would become a PvdA mayor as it had always been. However, the then minister of the interior, Hans Wiegel
of the right-wing VVD, decided that this very left-wing part of the Netherlands needed a change and appointed a D66
(left of centre) mayor. This led to a cold reception and the first time a Dutch
mayor was not officially inaugurated. Over time, however, people started to like him and when he moved to a bigger municipality there was even an action to keep him (to no avail). Not much later, the method of appointing a mayor in the Netherlands was changed, with the municipality putting up a request which is usually followed.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
province of Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
, municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
Menterwolde
Menterwolde
- Population centres :* Borgercompagnie* Meeden* Muntendam* Noordbroek* Tripscompagnie* Zuidbroek...
.
Until 1990 it was a separate municipality, which boasted the title 'reddest (most socialist) municipality in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
', with a council of 11 containing 7 PvdA (Labour Party) members and 2 CPN
CPN
CPN may stand for:*Called party number*Calpine Corporation, New York Stock Exchange symbol CPN*Canadian Perinatal Network*Carnivorous Plant Newsletter*Carpinteria , California, Amtrak station code CPN...
(Communist Party) members. (However, nearby Reiderland
Reiderland
Reiderland is a former municipality in the province Groningen in the northeastern Netherlands, which was founded in 1990 during a large municipal reorganization. The former municipalities Finsterwolde and Bad Nieuweschans were abolished and added to Beerta. In 1992, the new municipality was given...
had had a vast CPN majority since WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, so the claim is rather too strong). When a new mayor had to be appointed in 1980 (at the time a municipality had no say in the matter), it was assumed that it would become a PvdA mayor as it had always been. However, the then minister of the interior, Hans Wiegel
Hans Wiegel
Hans Wiegel is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy . He served as a Member of the House of Representatives from April 18, 1967 until December 19, 1977...
of the right-wing VVD, decided that this very left-wing part of the Netherlands needed a change and appointed a D66
Democrats 66
Democrats 66 is a progressive and social-liberal political party in the Netherlands. D66 was formed in 1966 by a group of politically unaligned, young intellectuals, led by journalist Hans van Mierlo. The party's main objective was to democratise the political system; it proposed to create an...
(left of centre) mayor. This led to a cold reception and the first time a Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
mayor was not officially inaugurated. Over time, however, people started to like him and when he moved to a bigger municipality there was even an action to keep him (to no avail). Not much later, the method of appointing a mayor in the Netherlands was changed, with the municipality putting up a request which is usually followed.