Steenwijkerland ( or Steenwiekerlaand) is a municipality in the province of Overijssel, in the eastern Netherlands. Prior to a name change in 2003, it was known as Steenwijk. The municipality forms the entire northwesterly corner of the province. This area is called "the Head of Overijssel" (in Dutch: de Kop van Overijssel). It borders the province Friesland. The seat of the municipality, Steenwijk, with a population of about 17,100, is situated on the A32 motorway (Zwolle – Meppel – Leeuwarden) and has a railway station on the line connecting those same cities.

Economy

Steenwijk is the economic and administrative centre of the region. Many smaller trading and industrial enterprises are housed here, as well as a hospital and some secondary schools. Vollenhove has a shipyard, where very exclusive yachts are built. All over the area, partially being below sea level, the soil is somewhat swampy. Many Steenwijkerland farmers only raise cattle. The soil is too wet to grow corn or wheat. However, the wetlands also have an advantage: many nature- or water sports-loving tourists come to the municipality.

Population centres

The larger places are printed in bold type. • Baarlo • Baars • Barsbeek • Basse • Belt-Schutsloot • Blauwe Hand • Blokzijl • De Bult • De Klosse • De Kolk • De Pol • Doosje • Dwarsgracht – like Nederland and Muggenbeet, a small village much like Giethoorn, however more remote • Eesveen • Giethoorn • Heetveld • Kadoelen • Kalenberg • Kallenkote • Kuinre • Leeuwte • Marijenkampen • Moespot • Muggenbeet • Nederland, Overijssel • Oldemarkt • Onna, Overijssel • Ossenzijl • Paasloo • Roekebosch • Ronduite • Scheerwolde • Sint Jansklooster • Steenwijk • Steenwijkerwold • Tuk – like Zuidveen now a suburb of Steenwijk • Vollenhove • Wanneperveen • Wetering • Willemsoord • Witte Paarden • Zuidveen

Sights

Notable people

Sport