Polen, Rural hamlet in Delfzijl, Netherlands.
Polen is a small rural settlement in Delfzijl situated along an old dike near Vierburen, composed of modest workers' houses set among open fields and waterways. The buildings form a simple arrangement with the flat countryside surrounding them on all sides.
The settlement originated in a remote area of the former municipality of Bierum, and its name reflects this isolated location far from other villages. The workers' houses represent a long tradition of agricultural settlement along the dikes.
Local residents maintain strong connections to traditional farming practices while adapting to changes brought by nearby industrial developments in Eemshaven.
It is best to visit during daylight hours, as there are no shops or cafés within the settlement itself. Bring supplies from nearby Delfzijl if you plan to spend time walking or cycling through the open countryside.
The old dike called Slaperdijk, meaning "sleeping dike" in the local dialect, shapes the landscape and shows how residents protected the land from flooding for centuries. Walking along this dike connects visitors to this uncommon historical relationship between people and water.
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