It is part of the municipality of Westerkwartier and forms a single urban area with Leek.

[8] Tolbert was mainly an agricultural community, however the industrialisation of nearby Leek attracted people to the village.

[9] After World War II, Tolbert and Leek became a single urban area, however it remained a separate entity.

In 1950, a street circuit for motorcycle racing was set-up in the village.

[10] In 2008, the races ended, because the organisation could not finance the required safety investments.