Ostaszewo Municipality
| Residents/Population: | 2 927 |
|---|---|
| Area: | 61 km2 |
| Expenditure per capita: | 8 019,60 zł |
| Website: | www.ostaszewo.pl |
| Rulers/Leaders: | |
| Michał ChrząszczMayor of the Municipality | Joanna WójtowiczChair of the City Council |
The Ostaszewo Municipality lies in the heart of the Vistula Fenlands (Żuławy Wiślane) and is one of the smallest municipalities in terms of population within the Gdańsk Metropolitan Area. The municipality boasts an incredibly rich history, which is reflected in its current cultural landscape, shaped by the intermingling of various nations, its characteristic flora and fauna, as well as historic rural and religious architecture.
Over the centuries, various cultures have intermingled in this area: Prussian, Pomeranian, Dutch, Ukrainian, Mennonite, German, and Polish. Each has left a mark that remains visible today. A true rarity is the only wooden church in Żuławy, dating back to 1712, as well as an 18th-century Dutch windmill in Palczewo. Major attractions also include the ruins of 14th- and 19th-century churches in Ostaszewo, and a church with a wooden tower in Jeziernik.
The predominance of agricultural land (83%) favors enterprises operating within the municipality. The "Little Holland" area and the "Ostaszewo - Piaskowiec Economic Activity Zone" are particularly active economically. These investments help stimulate the Nowy Dwór County, which has the highest unemployment rate in Pomerania. The "Little Holland" project was initiated by the Polish-Dutch Friendship Society, is supported by the "Dutch House" Foundation, and involves the local governments of Nowy Dwór Gdański, Ostaszewo, and Stegna. Its main goal is to highlight the historical role of Dutch settlers in Poland and to boost the local economy. Potential investors will find opportunities here in agriculture, horticulture, tourism and recreation, the hospitality industry, commerce, construction, fuel distribution, and road construction.
It is worth noting that the Vistula River Valley has been recognized as an international ecological corridor within the Econet Poland ecological network. The Ostaszewo Municipality is also protected as part of the Central Żuławy Protected Landscape Area. The proximity of the river and the absence of environmentally burdensome industries provide an additional incentive for leisure and recreation.