Gorredijk is in the municipality of Opsterland and has about 7,000 residents. The village arose due to peat extraction. The Opsterlandse Compagnonsvaart canal runs through the centre of Gorredijk.  In the past, Gorredijk was the place where goods were imported, stored and traded. Because of this, the residents of Gorredijk got the nickname of “handjeklappers ”. Up until 20 years ago the Gordykster Merke (annual market) was known for its cattle trade, but this is no longer the case. A lot of peat was extracted in Gorredijk, especially in the area behind Tijnje.