Drenthe

   One of the 12 provinces of the Netherlands, with a cur rent population of about 484,000. Evidence for prehistoric occu pation goes all the way back to 12,000 B.C. The monolithic burial mounds (hunebedden) are particularly famous. During the Middle Ages, Drenthe was spiritually and secularly governed by the bishop of Utrecht. During the 16th century, the German emperor Charles V acquired sovereignty in the northern parts of the Netherlands, including the sparsely populated landscape of Dren the. After its conquest during the Dutch Revolt against the Span ish king Philip II, Drenthe was incorporated into the Republic, but not on equal terms with the seven provinces that were repre sented in the States General. In 1796, representatives of Drenthe were finally admitted to the National Assembly. During the 19th century, the province, with Assen as its capital, remained a largely remote and inaccessible area. Gradually its agriculture was mod ernized and the province became more integrated in Dutch society. The last Dutch commercial peatery worked in Drenthe until the 1970s. Because of its unspoiled environment, Drenthe is a tourist attraction and a favorite vacation spot. Its main cities, in addition to the capital, are Emmen, Hoogeveen, and Meppel. Groningen Airport Eelde is located in Drenthe.