What is "wetsinge"

Groot Wetsinge ( English: Big Wetsinge) and Klein Wetsinge (English: Small Wetsinge) are two villages in the municipality of Winsum in the Dutch province of Groningen. The villages are less than half a kilometre apart and are often referred to together as Wetsinge. The closest village, at a distance of less than a kilometre to Wetsinge is Sauwerd.

The name Groot Wetsinge is a rather confusing name, because there are fewer houses in Groot Wetsinge than in Klein Wetsinge. In this context, Groot means high. This is because of the wierde on which the village lies. Klein Wetsinge is not situated on a wierde.

The first occupation of the mound of Groot Wetsinge dates from the 3rd century BC. Several discoveries have been made in the wierde, including an earthen lamp from the first century BC. The wierde is part of a cluster of wierdes along the eastern bank of the Hunze.

Wetsinge was part of the area controlled by the family Onsta, which also built the Onstaborg to the northeast of Wetsinge.