{"id":192565,"date":"2021-10-10T18:08:33","date_gmt":"2021-10-10T16:08:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/?post_type=plaats&p=192565"},"modified":"2026-09-26T20:21:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T18:21:26","slug":"5","status":"publish","type":"plaats","link":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/en\/place\/barlo\/groot-deunkweg\/5\/","title":{"rendered":"Groot Deunk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The earliest known reference appears in a deed of transfer from 1366: \u201cEen erve in Barle genaamd Dudinc\u201d (\u201ca holding in Barlo called Dudinc\u201d). The name probably derives from the Germanic personal name Dudo. The suffix -inc<\/em>, -ink<\/em> or -ing<\/em>, widely used in the eastern Netherlands, means \u201cbelonging to\u201d. In this case, it therefore meant the holding belonging to Dudo.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accounts ofSchaer monastery<\/a> show that the holding belonged to the monastery in the 15th century. A tax register from 1618 states: “Beijde Doeijnghe (“both Deunk holdings”) belonged to Schaer monastery.” The Deunk property had apparently already been divided in two by then. It included a comparatively large area of cultivated land: twenty molder, or about 11.5 hectares of arable land. For comparison, Bullens and Wesselink each had about 4 hectares and Nijhof about 7.5 hectares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before Napoleon introduced civil registration, residents of a farm were commonly identified by the name of the holding. This custom still survives locally in everyday speech. Members of the Deunk family lived here into the early 20th century. Through marriage and inheritance, the property was for a time owned by schoolmaster Bos, the first head teacher of theChristian National School in Barlo<\/a>. The last farming residents were the Jolink and Sonderlo families. The Jolink family lived in a later extension, while the Sonderlo family occupied the old farmhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent history<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Recreation complex<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In 1974, the Groot Deunk recreation complex was opened by Princess Beatrix. It was managed by the Paulusstichting and combined holidays, training and recreation on a commercial basis for disabled and non-disabled visitors. Facilities included a swimming pool, sports hall, riding school, holiday farm and golf course. The project soon proved loss-making. Attempts were made to sell it in the late 1970s, and redundancy applications were submitted for Paulusstichting staff working at Groot Deunk with effect from 1 February 1980. The complex ultimately became vacant around 1981.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Controversy over Bhagwan<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In 1982, the hamlet of Barlo attracted national attention because Bhagwan Sri Rajneesh was considering buying the Groot Deunk recreation centre and turning it into a training centre. The current-affairs programme TROS Aktua made a report in which a Mr Wevers said: \u201cBinnenkort gaat het in de fik, let maar op\u201d (\u201cIt will soon go up in flames, just you watch\u201d). During the night of 8 to 9 January 1982, the complex did indeed burn down. The damage amounted to one million guilders. Rajneesh subsequently abandoned the purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n