| Sellingen | |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Native Name Lang: | nl |
| Pushpin Map: | Netherlands Groningen#Netherlands |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in province of Groningen in the Netherlands |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Netherlands |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Groningen |
| Subdivision Type2: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name2: | Westerwolde |
| Coordinates: | 52.9464°N 7.1514°W |
| Elevation Footnotes: | [1] |
| Elevation M: | 9 |
| Area Total Km2: | 29.75 |
| Area Land Km2: | 29.28 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.48 |
| Area Urban Km2: | 0.79 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 1,880 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Urban: | 1,045 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Density Urban Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | CET |
| Utc Offset: | +1 |
| Timezone Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 9551 |
| Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
| Area Code: | 0599 |
Sellingen (pronounced as /nl/; Gronings: Zèlng pronounced as /ˈzɛːɫŋ̍/) is a village in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is a part of the municipality of Westerwolde, and lies about 25km (16miles) northeast of Emmen. In 2021, statistical area "Sellingen", which also includes the surrounding countryside, had a population of 1,880, and the village of Sellingen had 1,045.[2]
Sellingen was founded in the 12th century on a sandy ridge along the River . The church dates from the 1300s,[3] however a church in Sellingen was already mentioned around 1150 on a list of possession of the Diocese of Osnabrück.[4] In the 15th century, the Ter Apel Monastery was part of the parish of Sellingen.[5]
In 1665, the bishop of Münster secretly constructed a road through the moor from Walchum in Lower Saxony to Sellingen as part of a planned invasion of Groningen. At neighbouring Jipsinghuizen, the Münster Army was attacked by the Dutch Republic, and had to retreat after the Battle of Jipsinghuizen. The road was removed afterwards.[4]
Around 1750, the first school was built in Sellingen.[6] In October 1964, a road was opened between Sellingen and Walchum. Despite protests by both municipalities, the border remained fenced off, because Germany did not want to establish a border post.[7]
Sellingen used to be part of the municipality of Bourtange. In 1821, it became part of Vlagtwedde.[4] Many people desired a more central location of the municipal council. In 1889, the council voted to move the seat to Sellingen.[4] In 2017, Vlagtwedde merged into Westerwolde, however Sellingen is still one of the two seats.[6]
There was still a raised bog to the west of Sellingen. In the 1930s, the heath was cultivated, however of forest remained, and is known as the Sellingerbossen.[8] It is somewhat random landscape with forests, meadows and swamps, and is known for its variety of damselflies.[9]
The is located near the German border, and is the highest point in Groningen at .[10]