| Westerdiepsterdallen | |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Netherlands |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Groningen |
| Subdivision Type2: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name2: | Veendam |
| Population: | 5 |
| Population As Of: | 2007 |
| Coordinates: | 53.0792°N 6.8186°W |
| Pushpin Map: | Netherlands Groningen#Netherlands |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Westerdiepsterdallen in the province of Groningen |
Westerdiepsterdallen is a hamlet, near Groningen. For a long time, it only had 1 inhabitant, when one of the houses was empty. By only having 1 inhabitant, it made it to the 1984 Guinness Book of Records. The hamlet has grown to 5 people.[1]
Westerdiepsterdallen was an agricultural community.[2] It used to have three houses, but one burned down in 1956. The fire department had difficulty finding the village, and arrived late.[3] In 1975, one of the farms was squatted by Bonney Brattinga. After three years, he decided to buy the farm.[4] The municipality tried to condemn the village, however Brattinga successfully protested the decision, and remained on his farm even though he had no gas or electricity, and used a water tank.[2] In 1984, Westerdiepsterdallen made the Guinness Book of Records.[1]
The population has grown to five people, and nowadays has the same population as Breezanddijk.[1] [5] Westerdiepsterdallen is not a statistical unit, and is considered part of Wildervank.[1] Breezanddijk is a statistical unit with its own postal code.[5]