| Donkerbroek | |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Pushpin Map: | Netherlands Friesland#Netherlands |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the Netherlands |
| Coordinates: | 53.0169°N 6.2358°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Netherlands |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Friesland |
| Subdivision Type2: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name2: | Ooststellingwerf |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 22.31 |
| Elevation Footnotes: | [1] |
| Elevation M: | 5 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 1,895 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | CET |
| Utc Offset: | +1 |
| Timezone Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 8435 |
| Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
| Area Code: | 0516 |
Donkerbroek is a village in the municipality of Ooststellingwerf, the Netherlands. In 2017, it had a population of around 1,830.[3]
The village was first mentioned in 1408 as Duncbrueck. The etymology is unclear.[4] Donkerbroek probably developed in the 13th century along the Heerenveen to Assen road. Even though, it is located in a peat region, it is not an excavation village. The Dutch Reformed church was built in 1714 as a replacement of an older church.[5] The church has a standalone belfry with two bells which have existed since at least 1723. In 1840, Donkerbroek was home to 669 people.[6]
Around 1900, some industry appeared along the canal. The cooperative purchasing association "Friesland" is an industrial complex from 1911 which is built in a combination of Rationalism and Jugendstil.[5] The building contained a fodder factory.[7]