At the intersection of the Klaassteenweg and the Holtenweg in Marwijksoord, a huge boulder has recently recently been displayed. The stone mark the old border between the Boermarken Rolde and Nijlye.
De Kei was placed by the Boermarke Rolde-Nijlande-Eldersloo, together with the Vereniging Drentse Boermarken. That association is committed to making the historic markings of the Boermarse boundaries visible throughout Drenthe.
Nowadays Boermarken mainly manage the village brinks and help them organize cultural events. But centuries ago, from the Middle Ages to the French period, they governed the Drenthe villages.
As precursors of municipalities, they were responsible for making local laws and rules. The boundaries between the Boermarken were marked with border posts or with boulders.
In Marwijksoord, the recovered Markesteen is not exactly in its original place, but a little further away. “He used to be closer to the edge of the forest,” says Markevoor -chairman Arwolt Emmens, pointing to a grove on the edge of a barley rider. “But here along the road it is more beautiful in sight.”
The Drentse Boermarken Association has now received around thirty applications from Boermarken who also want their marquises back. Association chairman Johan Moes hopes that the historic border stones can eventually be admired everywhere in Drenthe.
“We have only just started and of course it costs money,” says Moes. “Fortunately we have received a contribution from a local bank. If we also get money from other banks in Drenthe, we hope that we might go to a hundred stones.”
According to the chairman, the costs are mainly in the placement of benches and information boards at every Markesteen. The boulders themselves are not that complicated to get.
“There are still field boulders everywhere in Drenthe with farmers on the land. So we don’t have to take them from the hunebeds,” Moes jokes.
The Boermarke van Rolde, Nijlye and Eldersloo’s board is proud that there is another Markesteen on the old border. Chairman Emmens hopes that many people will come and see the stone. “It is nice that you put something back from the past. Now the art is to maintain the stone in the future.”