Grafschaft Bentheim District

Grafschaft Bentheim (also known as Benteim District or County of Bentheim) is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by (from the west and clockwise) the Dutch provinces Overijssel and Drenthe, the district of Emsland, and the districts Steinfurt and Borken in North Rhine-Westphalia.

History
Main article: County of Bentheim

Bentheim was a small medieval county. The district was once full of fens, just like the neighbouring Emsland. The small Vechte river offered the opportunity to found settlements along the banks. Bentheim became an earldom as early as 1050. In the following centuries it became a regional power by annexing the neighbouring earldoms of Steinfurt and Tecklenburg. Sandstone was the major export article in medieval times, ensuring the wealth of the earldom.

Geography
The small district of Bentheim protrudes into Dutch territory. The Vechte River (Dutch Vecht) crosses the district from south to north and runs into the Netherlands. All major towns are situated along that river.

The district is roughly identical with the medieval earldom of Bentheim, but excluding Steinfurt and Tecklenburg.