Doodstil
Doodstil, a village with one of the most unusual place names in the Netherlands, is known for its rich history. With three national monuments and the unique genesis of the place name, this is a place that captures the imagination.
In 2005, Doodstil was named the most beautiful place name in the Netherlands. And rightly so, surely? The name evokes associations with peace and quiet, but the explanation is quite different. In the past, a small ferry connected the two banks. Then one day, when a coffin had to be ferried across, the ferryman made a clumsy manoeuvre and the coffin disappeared into the water. To prevent such incidents from happening again, a bridge – ‘til’ in the Groningen dialect – was built for the dead: a Doods-til.
“Doodstil is a very quiet little village. The only things you hear here are the wind, children playing and, occasionally, the clanking of the swing bridge. Since 2021, Doodstil has also had its own sound, composed especially for us. But every village in Waddenland has a unique sound; its own voice that is worth hearing.” – Goos Gosling Slotegraaf – chair of the Zandeweer Eppenhuizen Doodstil Village Interest Association –
Do…
In 2005, Doodstil was named the most beautiful place name in the Netherlands. And rightly so, surely? The name evokes associations with peace and quiet, but the explanation is quite different. In the past, a small ferry connected the two banks. Then one day, when a coffin had to be ferried across, the ferryman made a clumsy manoeuvre and the coffin disappeared into the water. To prevent such incidents from happening again, a bridge – ‘til’ in the Groningen dialect – was built for the dead: a Doods-til.
“Doodstil is a very quiet little village. The only things you hear here are the wind, children playing and, occasionally, the clanking of the swing bridge. Since 2021, Doodstil has also had its own sound, composed especially for us. But every village in Waddenland has a unique sound; its own voice that is worth hearing.” – Goos Gosling Slotegraaf – chair of the Zandeweer Eppenhuizen Doodstil Village Interest Association –
Doodstil is home to three listed buildings: the Mayor’s Villa (1916) – Barmerweg 1 • Nieuw Hoijkingaheerd Farm (1780) – Barmerweg 12 • Langenhuis Farm (residential house 1624) – Doodstilsterweg 3.