Ommelanden

The ommelanden (In English: surrounding lands) are the parts of the province Groningen, that surround the city Groningen. Usually mentioned as synonym for the province in the expression Stad en Ommeland (city and ommeland) The erea was frisian-speaking but under the influence of the Saxon city of Groningen most of the erea turned to speaking a lower-saxon dialect. A reminder of the frisian past is the ommelander-flag which looks a lot like the frisian provicial flag but has more and narrower stripes and more red hearts(and not as believed by the frisians waterlilie-leaves). The erea is made up of the following regions:Westerkwartier,Hunsingo,Fivelingo,Groningen City and Gorecht,Hogeland,Woldstreek and Westerwolde.