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Environs |
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About
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About this informationOn this page you will find some concise information of Leeuwarden and Friesland. There is a lot to tell and to see. If you want to know more you can use the links on the Tips-page or ask hostess Anneke for some assistance.
LeeuwardenLeeuwarden is the capital of Friesland. It is not a metropolis but a cosy town with a population of 100.000 (including 15000 students) and a lot of history. The oldest parts of the inner-city date from the 11th century and are build on "Terpen" (human made heights to keep the feet dry when storms swept up the waters). The old structures are stilll visible. On a walk east of Oldehove tower you notice going up and down these terps. In the north are the remainings of the defence-walls including the romantic Prinsentuin (Prince's Garden"). In the past members of the Dutch royal family lived in Leeuwarden for years and left some beautifull buildings. In the inner-city itself the many canals that served for many ages as the main "roads" of transportation. There are many characteristic buildings ("Great Church", "Stadtholder Court", "Oldehove Tower", some interesting museums ("Princessehof", "Frisian Museum"), a beautifull modern theater, some scientific libraries and a frisian state archive.
Leeuwarden and the water (inner city)
In the state-archive people from all over the western world search for their ancestors and a lot of frisian "sneupers" are looking for historical information on their villages. On the foot of the only skyscraper (opposite the railway-station) you will find the Tourist Office. They have a lot of info of Leeuwarden, Friesland and the rest of The Netherlands. Every friday there is a hugh market on the Wilhemina-square. Leeuwarden develops itself as an educational centre with students from all over the world. In the evening the many bars and terrasses are filled with students and a increasing number of restaurants offer food from all over the world. A department of the World Trade Centre and a "Chamber of Commerce" assist in commercial advice and development. Leeuwarden has some fame for his dairy industrie and the biggest european cattle-market on friday. In the exhibition centre FEC activities as "Concours hippique", exhibitions and open markets take place regularly. Leeuwarden also houses the administrative center of the province Friesland, the court of justice and a military airbase. A big part of the citizens of Leeuwarden come from foreign countries (Turkey, Morocco, other arabic counties, Surinam etc.). This, together with the foreign students, gives Leeuwarden a bit of international flavour and contributes a lot tot the vividnes of the city. A little red-light district, a growing amount of homeless people and the usual drug- and alcohol related problems complete this tiny picture of the Frisian capital. For relaxation there is a hugh Sauna (Westenberg), several cinema's, the many Café's, music Café's Globbe and Silbermann, and the theatres "Harmonie", "Music Centre Schaaf" and "Romein".
FrieslandLeeuwarden is the capital of Friesland. Friesland is 1 of the 12 provinces in the kingdom of the Netherlands. Friesland has a long history and a typical culture of its own. An important part of that culture is the Frisian language wich is 1 of the 2 official languages in The Netherlands (the other language is Dutch). Many people speak Frisian, especially in the many agricultural villages ("dorpen"). Some even say there is something like a frisian "personality". That could be true because there are many frisian families who live on the frisian soil for ages and have typical frisian familynames. There are typical frisian sportevents as "fierljeppen", "kaatsen", "Elfstedentocht" en "Skutsjesilen". Friesland has 12 cities and numerous little villages. The many small roads and canals often follow the sides of old creeks or dikes and "crinkle" trough the landscape. Ideal for bicycling (the roads) and boating or ice-skating (the canals).
In Friesland you will find many different and attractive landscapes. In the north outside the dikes you find the Waddensea with the wetlands, the islands and the Brown Fleet (old sailing ships). Inside the dikes you find terp-villages with their 12th to 14th century churches. The "terpen" are human-made heights, in the old days used to keep the feet dry when storms swept up the waters and dikes did not exist yet. You find the terpen in the pittoresque grass-lands together with frisian horses, sheep, frisian cows and beautifull old farms. A famous you-must-see-dike is the so called "Slachtedyk", a cultural monument with 42 km's genuine beauty. More landinwards you find the lake district, ideal for sailing, fishing or a boattrip. In the southwest the IJsselmeer-coast (the Golden Circle) and the hilly side of Gaasterland. In the South the older sandheights and the woods. You can travel Friesland by car, bicycle, boat, train and on foot. In many cities you will find a tourist-office (ask for the local VVV) with lots of information. For people interested in culture and history there are numerous books, museums, routes and guided tours. Especially pay attention to things as old maps, the frisian village life, typical frisian products as "friese nagelkaas" (cheese), "droege wust"(smoked sausages), "jouster pof" (bread with raisins and brown sugar), "beerenburg" (jenever on fine herbs) etc. etc. Do not hurry, Friesland must be taken slowly.
The Golden Circle
© copyright Bed and Breakfast “Aan de Kade” Leeuwarden 2004
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