Leeuwarden

Leeuwarden is a city and municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of Friesland. As of 2023, over 127,000 people live there. It is the provincial capital and home to the Provincial Council of Friesland.

People have lived in this area since the 10th century, and it became known as Leeuwarden in the early 9th century. It received city privileges in 1435 and has since grown into the main economic center of Friesland.

The city is famous for its beautiful historic center, many old buildings, and large shopping area with squares and restaurants. In 2018, Leeuwarden was named a European Capital of Culture, and in 2019, it became a UNESCO City of Literature. One of its most famous events is the Elfstedentocht, an exciting ice skating tour through the eleven cities of Friesland, starting and ending in Leeuwarden. Nearby towns and villages include Stiens, Grou, Goutum, Wergea, Jirnsum, Reduzum, and Wirdum.

Etymology

The name "Leeuwarden" began with a village called Nijehove. This village later joined with Oldehove and Hoek to become the city we know today. We are not exactly sure how the name started, but it has had many spellings over time, like Leeuwarden, Liwwadden, and Ljouwert.

The word "Warden" in the name refers to a man-made hill where people lived, called a terp. The word "leeuw" means lion in Dutch today and matches the city's coat of arms, which shows a lion. Some people think the name might also mean "sheltered from the wind" or "sheltered landing place," which fits because Leeuwarden is near water in Friesland.

History

The oldest houses in Leeuwarden date back to the 2nd century AD, found near the Oldehove. People have lived there since the 10th century. Records from 1285 mention it, and it got special rights in 1435. It was an important place for sea trade along the Middelzee, but the water pathway later filled up with dirt.

The Grote or Jacobijnerkerk is the city's oldest building. In the 1400s, walls and a moat were built around the city. In the 1800s, these defenses were torn down. The city made money there from 1580 to 1752.

Leeuwarden was occupied by German forces during part of World War II, but was freed in 1945 by soldiers from Canada. In 1951, there was a protest where police used batons against people who wanted to use the Frisian language in courts.

In 2013, a fire damaged several shops and homes on a busy street. One person living there was affected.

Heraldry

The coat of arms of Leeuwarden is the city's official symbol. It shows a blue escutcheon with a golden lion and a crown. The lion might look fitting because "Leeuw" in Dutch means "Lion." Some think the city's oldest name may have meant water instead of an animal. The lion may have been added later. The coat of arms might have been given to the city by an important family called the Minnema.

Geography

Leeuwarden is in the middle of Friesland. To the northwest is a military air base called Leeuwarden Air Base. East of the city is a fun area and nature reserve named De Groene Ster. This area has a windmill called Himriksmole, a golf course, and a zoo named AquaZoo Friesland.

Demographics

Leeuwarden is a city with many people living in it.

Inhabitants by origin

Culture

Museums

Leeuwarden has many interesting museums. The Fries Museum shows art, culture, and history. It includes stories about World War II in Friesland. Other museums are the Princessehof Ceramics Museum, the Pier Pander Museum for sculptures, and the Natuurmuseum Fryslân for natural history.

Architecture

Leeuwarden has over 800 important old buildings. The Oldehove is a famous leaning church tower. Other notable spots are the city hall from 1715, the Stadhouderlijk Hof, and the Saint Boniface church. The Blokhuispoart, an old prison, is now a library, hostel, and restaurant. The Froskepôlemolen is the last windmill still standing in the city.

Cultural events and festivals

In 2013, Leeuwarden became the European Capital of Culture for 2018, hosting many special events. One big project was 11Fountains, with fountains placed in the eleven cities of Friesland. Annual festivals include Cityrock, Dancetour, and the Noordelijk Film Festival. There is also a large flower market held on Ascension Day.

Transport

Leeuwarden has a main railway station that opened in 1863. It is the end of the train line from Zwolle. Regional trains go to Groningen, Harlingen, and Stavoren. There are also smaller train stations nearby.

Near the train station, there is a bus station. Buses travel around the city and to nearby places. Some buses go to ferries that travel to Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. The motorways A31 and A32 are close to Leeuwarden, and there is a big canal called the Van Harinxmakanaal.

Education

Leeuwarden has many good schools, including the Van Hall Instituut and NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences. The city also has three vocational schools: Friese Poort, Friesland College, and Nordwin College.

Though Leeuwarden does not have its own university, it has some school branches, like Campus Fryslân from the University of Groningen and the Dairy Campus from Wageningen University and Research. There is also a Technological Top Institute called Wetsus that studies water technologies, along with the Wadden Academy for research on the Wadden Sea.

Economy

Leeuwarden has many big workplaces that help the city stay busy. Some of the biggest ones are Medical Center Leeuwarden, ING, the Central Judicial Collection Agency, Achmea, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Leeuwarden Air Base, and FrieslandCampina. WTC Expo is the largest place for events in the Northern Netherlands.

Sports

The city has a local football team, SC Cambuur, that plays in the second tier of Dutch football. They play at the Kooi Stadion. There is also a basketball team, Aris Leeuwarden, that has been part of the Dutch Basketball League since 2004.

The Elfstedenhal is a big sports venue where people can watch long track speed skating, short track speed skating, ice hockey, figure skating, and curling.

Leeuwarden is the start and finish line for the famous Elfstedentocht, a long speed skating race. It only happens when the winter conditions are just right.

There is also an annual running event called Loop Leeuwarden, which includes 5-kilometer, 10-kilometer, and half marathon races. It began in 1985 and happens every May. The city also has two sailing boats that compete in the yearly Skûtsjesilen sailing race.

Media

Leeuwarden has two daily newspapers, the Leeuwarder Courant and the Friesch Dagblad. Both are mostly written in Dutch and are published by NDC Mediagroep. There is also a public broadcaster called Omrop Fryslân that makes radio and TV programs mainly in the Frisian language.

Notable residents

Main article: List of people from Leeuwarden

Leeuwarden has been home to many interesting people over the years. Some became well-known artists, like painter Lawrence Alma-Tadema and graphic artist M. C. Escher. Others helped in important ways. For example, Esmée van Eeghen was a resistance fighter during World War II, and Rinskje Visscher was the first woman to serve as a municipal archivist in the Netherlands. Today, the city is also known for Joost Klein, a rapper and singer who took part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024.

Politics

In the Netherlands, a city is run by a group called the college of mayor and aldermen, and a municipal council. Sybrand van Haersma Buma has been the mayor of Leeuwarden since 2019. The municipal council has 39 seats.

As the main city of the area, Leeuwarden is also where important people for the whole region work, including the King's Commissioner and the Provincial Council of Friesland.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Netherlands

Leeuwarden works with cities in other parts of the world. These cities are friends and help each other.