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image by Jarig Bakker, 7 Jun 2003
villageflag
Eenum is a small village (135 inh.) in the municipality of Loppersum,
Groningen province. It used to be part of 't Zandt, which merged into Loppersum
in 1990.
The flag is a green over white bicolor; a photo was sent by Petra on
behalf of the website eenum.net to Stefan Lambrechts, who produced this
brilliant gif.
Note: Eenum not to be confused with Eenrum.
Jarig Bakker, 25 Oct 2008
Leermens is a village in the municipality of Loppersum, Groningen province.
It used to be in the former municipality of 't Zand Every year all
six villages of 't Zand meet for a village-contest. In 1985 it was the
turn of Leermens to organize the competition. For that event it wanted
to have its own villageflag. The society for village interests (Dorpsbelangen)
organized a contest, and asked Mr. J.A. de Doo to pick a winner. However
it appeared that some minor matters had been overlooked, such as the question:
"What is a flag?" It was decided to start a new competition, aided by this
definition:
"A flag is colorful, waving piece of cloth, which can be hoisted on
a mast, or can be carried around on a stick, which is a recognizable sign
and a coherent element for a group of people".
The flag has to be simple in design, so anyone with a sewing machine
can make it; and it should be different from other flags in order to be
recognizable. No words.
Before the deciding meeting "Dorpsbelangen" received the following
questions:
- Which are the colors which characterize the village?
- Which are the specific characteristics of the village?
Leermens is a typical Gronings terp-village with a Romano-Gothic church,
devoted to St. Donatius or Doonaart. There is no "borg" (old fortified
stately house) to which it owed allegiance. In ancient times law was administered
here. Around the village is the old "osseweg" (ox-road), and the
small canal, named "Maar", which is untouched. In the Gronings vernacular
"om Leerse koomm" means: to know what there is to know.
The colors blue for the skye, and green for the fields were chosen.
As a dividing line a red stripe was preferred (for the terp, the brickhouses).
Several geometrical forms could represent the terp (mound); other geometric
patterns were offered by the letter "L'. The attributes of St. Donatius
(an axe, a lightning, or a wheel with a sword) offered other alternatives.
Etcetera.
First some simple tricolors were tested. It was found out, that stripes
with unequal width were preferred. At the end stripes proportioned 3:1:2
were chosen.
The village silhouette dropped out of the options, because that was
too complicated.
Next experiments were carried out with the letter "L", with a flash
of lightning, and with a combination of both.
Finally two trapeziums were found, connected in such a way that they
formed a regular octogon, which represented the village-plan, and other
elements, mentioned above.
The red stripe was found too somber, and this color was replaced by
bright yellow, the color of flowering coalseedfields and ripe corn.
The final product became: three horizontal stripes of blue, yellow,
and green, proportioned 3:1:2; the middle stripe widened to a regular octagon,
with sides equal to the width of the stripe, the octagon placed at a distance
of the width of the yellow stripe from the hoist.
Source: article in Vexilla Nostra 138-139, 1985, by Mr. J.A. de
Boo.
Jarig Bakker, 30 Aug 2003
This village is in the former municipality 't Zand, now Loppersum, high
up north in the province of Groningen, and the flag is at <http://home.wanadoo.nl/alexxx/geschiedenis/vlag.htm>
I don't know if the flag has been okayed by the municipality, but I
must admire its quite unheraldic qualities.
Info from the site: The village flag was presented on 26 Oct 1990.
It was designed by Mrs. Vels of Oosternieland.
Description: Blue is the color of the sea; yellow of the coleseed fields;
the doors stand for the locks (Zijl = locks, which were formerly
on the place of the Oosternijzielster viaduct). The "Z" on the flag is
self-explanatory.
Jarig Bakker, 8 October 2000