Laar (Grafschaft Bentheim)

Laar is a community in the district of Grafschaft Bentheim in Lower Saxony. The community’s name comes from the Old Dutch for “glade in the woods”.GeographyLocationLaar lies northwest of Nordhorn on the German-Dutch border. It belongs to the Joint Community (Samtgemeinde) of Emlichheim, whose administrative seat is in the like-named town. The Vechte runs through the community.Neighbouring communitiesThe community of Laar borders in the south on the communities of Wielen and Wilsum, in the east on the community of Emlichheim, in the north on the Dutch community of Coevorden and in the west on the Dutch community of Hardenberg in Overijssel.Constituent communitiesThe community of Laar consists of the six constituent centres of Agterhorn, Echteler, Eschebrügge, Heesterkante, Laar and Vorwald.ReligionAlthough Laar is a small village, it nonetheless has three church parishes: Evangelical-Reformed, Catholic and Evangelical-Old Reformed.PoliticsMunicipal councilLaar’s council is made up of 13 councillors. CDU 10 seatsSPD 1 seatgbf 2 seats(as of municipal election on 10 September 2006)