Essen, Netherlands

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Essen is a small village in the municipality Haren in the province Groningen, It lies just at the side of the city Groningen. It lies between the city of Groningen and the village of Haren.

In 1215 a monastery was founded in Essen (or Yesse). It existed until 1594. During the reformation it was closed down by the province of Groningen. It was known for having a miraculous statue of Mary (mother of Jesus). Not a trace of the monastery has been left.

Today's Essen only counts twenty farms in a very rural countryside; it is hard to imagine that the center of the city of Groningen is only 10 minutes away.

The existence of Essen is being threatened by plans to build a new beltway, the Zuidtangent. The municipality of Haren has so far resisted these plans.