We might live in a relatively flat province - in clear weather you can see the lighthouses on the islands from Leeuwarden - but when it comes to Frisian icons, we are head and shoulders above the rest of the Netherlands. From National Parks to industry movers and shakers. The Wadden Sea, the Ir. D.F. Woudagemaal, the Eise Eisinga Planetarium; these are just a few of the many exciting places to visit in our province.
In 2017, it will be exactly 100 years since Mata Hari was executed before a firing squad in Vincennes. Did she die as a double agent or as an exotic dancer?
Reproductions of his work hang in millions of houses across the world and especially in areas where the visual arts have not yet been firmly established: in suburbs, apartment blocks, hair salons or teenagers’ bedrooms.
Castles and country estates, mills and churches: Friesland has a wealth of special buildings. They not only adorn our province, they also say something about our culture.
You no longer have to go outside to see the position of the stars. In 1774 in Franeker, Eise Eisinga decided to turn his living room into a planetarium and his star ceiling still runs accurately to the minute.
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The largest steam mill in the world is in Friesland. The Ir. D.F. Woudagemaal is in Lemmer, and is still put into operation twice a year.
The Waterpoort is Sneek’s most famous building and the symbol of the city. The gate consists of two eight-sided towers, between which there is a bridge over the waterway between De Kolk and the Stadsgracht in the city centre, and a gatekeeper’s house above the bridge.
The Afsluitdijk is a large and very important water icon of Friesland. The Afsluitdijk is the watercourse between Friesland and North Holland and closes the IJsselmeer from the Wadden Sea. This 32.5 kilometre long dike is extremely important in protecting the Netherlands from floods. Building has recently begun on an Afsluitdijk experience centre where tourists can see and experience the story of the dike.
Dokkum, one of the eleven cities, is characterised by the story of church reformer Saint Boniface, who was assassinated there on 5 June 754. Boniface had a major role in the founding of the Church of Rome and the growth of cultural unity in Western Europe. In 754, he opted to go to Friesland for his last mission but came to an unfortunate end there.
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With its rich history, the leafy Oranjewoud parkland (near Heerenveen) offers countless links for an exciting programme that binds people to classical music. Oranjewoud Festival demonstrates that classical music still hasn’t lost its topicality and urgency.
Yiddish Waves includes stories of a people without a country and a language made up of German, Russian, Polish, Romanian, Bulgarian and Hebrew words. Arab musicians and Frisian poets meet each other in a music festival and there is a dance event with international DJs: Klezmer meets Chaabi.
Hegebeintum
Leeuwarden
Beetsterzwaag
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