The eleven cities

SKYLINE

 Where in the world are the cities smaller than villages? In Friesland of course. Our cities get that title not from their structure but from their historical significance. They are cities of dreamers who show that you don’t have to be the biggest to be noticed and the doers who prove that you don’t have to be the richest in order to chase your dreams. The Calimero effect? We don’t do that. We’re small and they’re big, and that is bêst genôch. 

LEEUWARDEN

The bustling capital
Our bustling heart, Leeuwarden, has been beating for centuries. The city of festivals, the Oldehove and rich cultural offerings will shake on its foundations in the coming years. In 2018, Leeuwarden together with Friesland is the European Capital of Culture. Below is everything Leeuwarden has to offer during and outside this special year.
More about Leeuwarden

Sneek
IJlst

IJlst

Sloten

Stavoren

Hindeloopen

Franeker

Workum

Bolsward

Harlingen

Dokkum

Eleven-city tours

You can also enjoy the Tour of all Tours outside the skating season. Why not cycle, walk, sail, kayak, scooter or paddleboard your way through the eleven cities. See the various possibilities below.
All eleven-city routes

11Fountains

The Elfstedentocht, but permanent. 11Fountains is a visual art project in which eleven of the world’s leading visual artists have been linked to the eleven cities in Friesland. Be transported on the back of Bolsward’s bat, get lost in the mist of the Leeuwarden mist fountain or experience how the IJsselmeer froze over at the Dokkum ice fountain. Each fountain tells the story and history of the city..
Read more about 11Fountains

Elfwegentocht

Two weeks fossil fuel free through Friesland
Two weeks of transportation using bikes, green petrol or electric cars, in the biogas bus, with the electric train or an electric boat. Friesland is going fossil fuel free for two weeks during the summer of 2018.
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Villages

Lemmer, Joure, Heerenveen. Well-known tourist attractions that are not cities according to the official Frisian designation system, but as villages they just might be bigger in terms of population and area. This can only happen in Friesland. That’s why you should take a look at the other highlights in the province.

Lemmer

Heerenveen

Drachten

Joure

View all the villages