Friesland

I

Introduction

Friesland, northern coastal province of the Netherlands, bordered to the west by the IJsselmeer, to the north by the North Sea, and to the south and east by the provinces of Overijssel, Groningen, and Drenthe. The province has an area of 3,361 sq km (1,298 sq mi)

II

Physical Geography

Friesland extends across the Waddenzee to include a number of the West Frisian Islands (Friese Eilanden), the largest of which are Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, and Schiermonnikoog. The province is part of the “Low” Netherlands, and much of the province lies below sea level. Two important canals connecting the Ems River with both the IJsselmeer and Waddenzee run through Friesland. There are approximately 30 lakes in the province, many of which are connected by a network of canals. The largest bodies of water in Friesland include the Fluessen, Tjeukemeer, and Lauwersmeer. The protected wetlands of Lauwesmeer National Park, in the north, extend across the border into Groningen. The park covers an area of around 90 sq km (35 sq mi) and is one of the country’s most important natural habitats for birds. The lake and its sandy shores provide a safe environment for more than 170 species of bird, including geese, herons, swans, and spoonbills. Alde Feanen National Park, in the centre of Friesland, is an area of peatland, surrounded by wet meadows and grassland, with lakes, reedbeds, and woodland. It is an important wintering ground for migratory waterfowl, with around 20,000 birds visiting each year.

III

Population

The province had 639,787 inhabitants in 2003. The average population density is 190 people per sq km (492 per sq mi). Leeuwarden (population, 2000, 88,855) is the capital of the province as well as Friesland's largest town. Other large settlements include Drachten (1994, 42,669); Heerenveen (1994, 38,936); Sneek (1994, 29,445); Harlingen (1994, 15,250); and Dokkum (1994, 12,349).

The province contains the majority of the approximately 700,000 speakers of the Frisian language. Western Frisian is officially permitted to be used in Friesland’s courts although legal documents are in Dutch. In 1980 it was made a compulsory subject in primary schools in the province, and in 1993 the same amendment to the education act was made for its use in secondary and special schools. Since 1994, two hours a day of television programmes in Western Frisian have been aired. There is an active movement to preserve the cultural and linguistic integrity of the province's Frisian people, and writers have produced a substantial body of Frisian literature.

IV

Economy

Friesland has a rural, agrarian economy. Its poorly drained soils are best suited for pasture, and the province is well known in Europe for its cattle. The limited arable land, which includes areas of polders (land reclaimed from the sea), grows potatoes, wheat, and sugar beet. Leeuwarden is the province’s chief industrial centre. The town has a large fruit and cattle market, and factories manufacturing clothing, artificial silk, linen fabrics, footwear, soap, machinery, and food products. Drachten was an important manufacturing centre during the 19th century, with flour, saw, and oil mills. Today, electronics equipment and machinery are the town’s main manufactures. Tourism is significant along the coast and on the islands of the Waddenzee. Many visitors attend the Elfstedentocht, a traditional Dutch ice-skating competition that takes place on the province’s frozen canals. The race follows a 199-km (124-mi) course that connects all of Friesland’s 11 cities.