Drenthe (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈdrɛntə] ⓘ) is a province of the Netherlands located in the northeastern part of the country.

It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and the German state of Lower Saxony to the east.

It is a predominantly rural area, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands; except for the small cities of Assen (pop.

In 2006, the archaeological reserve of Strubben-Kniphorstbos, located between Anloo and Schipborg, was created to preserve part of this heritage.

[citation needed] One item shows that trading networks during this period extended a far distance.

Large bronze situlae (buckets) found in Drenthe were manufactured somewhere in eastern France or in Switzerland.

Subjugation of this region into the Holy Roman Empire culminated in the Drenther Crusade launched by the Papacy around 1228-1232.

When the Republic of the Seven United Provinces was declared in 1581, Drenthe became part of it as the County of Drenthe, although it never gained full provincial status due to its poverty;[citation needed] the province was so poor it was exempt from paying federal taxes and as a consequence was denied representation in the States General.

Shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, the Dutch government built a camp near the town of Hooghalen to intern German Jewish refugees.

Many Dutch Jews, Sinti, Roma, resistance combatants and political adversaries were imprisoned before being transferred to concentration and extermination camps in Germany and occupied Poland.

The major urban centers of the province are the capital Assen in the north and Emmen, Meppel, Hoogeveen, and Coevorden in the south.

[16] The Netherlands underwent a large number of municipal mergers in the past decades and Drenthe was no exception.

[18][19] The municipalities Assen, Noordenveld, and Tynaarlo are part of the interprovincial Groningen-Assen Region[20] and the municipalities Aa en Hunze, Assen, Borger-Odoorn, Coevorden, Emmen, Midden-Drenthe, Noordenveld, and Westerveld are part of the international Ems Dollart Region (EDR).

Religion in Drenthe (2015)[26] Agriculture is an important employer, although industrial areas are found near the cities.

The Gross domestic product (GDP) of the province was 15.1 billion € in 2018, accounting for 1.9% of the Netherlands economic output.

The Ronde van Drenthe is an elite men's and women's professional road bicycle race that takes place annually in early March.

While the provincial council is elected by the people of Drenthe, the Commissioner is appointed by the King and the cabinet of the Netherlands.

The daily affairs of the province are taken care of by the Gedeputeerde Staten, which are also headed by the Commissioner; its members (gedeputeerden) can be compared with ministers.