[3] The village was founded by labourers from Friesland; a part of the population still speaks West Frisian.

[4] The area around De Wilp was a raised bog which formed the boundary between the province of Friesland and Groningen.

In the late-18 century, the Company of Drachten started exploiting the peat.

[5] A linear settlement appeared along the canal,[6] and was named De Wilp after a sign with a Eurasian curlew (Wylp in Frisian) of a local tavern.

[7] The border was defined later, and the Frisian side of the village is in Siegerswoude.