Semslinie

The Semslinie is a part of the border between the Dutch provinces of Groningen and Drenthe that runs right through the former Bourtanger Moor.

Determining the exact border was necessary because both provinces wanted to get peat from the bog (Bourtanger Moor) between them.

Before the 17th century, there was no large-scale peat harvesting and the provinces never bothered about the exact location of the border.

In 1756, Groningen began digging a canal from the village of Bareveld to Ter Apel, parallel to the Semslinie.

[1] On October 14, 1815, king William I of the Netherlands, argued that Groningen and Drenthe should sign an agreement about the border and the use of the Stadskanaal.