Grootebroek Explained

Grootebroek
Pushpin Map:Netherlands North Holland
Pushpin Mapsize:180
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Netherlands
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:North Holland
Subdivision Type2:Municipality
Subdivision Name2:Stede Broec
Population:8447
Population As Of:2005
Coordinates:52.6989°N 5.2189°W

Grootebroek is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is located in the municipality of Stede Broec.

Grootebroek was a separate municipality until 1979.Grootebroek directly borders Bovenkarspel to the east and Lutjebroek to the west.

The town's is named after the swamp-like area it was built upon; in Dutch, "groot" means "large" and "broek" formerly was used to describe a "swamp". In present-day Dutch though, the words "broek" means "pants". This has led to the town's name now meaning "large pants" which is often times joked about.

The Dutch football players Frank and Ronald de Boer grew up in Grootebroek.