It is a part of the municipality of Westerwolde, and lies about 28 km northeast of Emmen.

In 1665, Christoph Bernhard von Galen, the bishop of Münster, secretly constructed a road from Walchum, Lower Saxony to Sellingen, Groningen through the moor as part of a planned invasion of Groningen.

[5] In the early morning of 26 September, the troops led by Willem Nierop attacked.

[5] Later, Münster managed to take Westerwolde via Drenthe and Oldambt, but was attacked by the Dutch States Army under command of John Maurice of Nassau-Siegen.

[4][6] Münster promised eternal peace, the return of all conquered territories and in particular Borculo, and a reduction of its army to 3,000 men.