| Coordinates | 40°27′42″N78°12′14″N |
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| Official name | Leeuwarden |
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| Native name | Ljouwert |
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| Flag size | 120x100px |
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| Flag alt | Flag of Leeuwarden |
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| Shield size | 120x100px |
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| Shield alt | Coat of arms of Leeuwarden |
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| Coordinates display | inline,title |
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| Coordinates region | NL |
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| Subdivision type | Country |
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| Subdivision name | Netherlands |
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| Subdivision type1 | Province |
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| Subdivision name1 | Friesland |
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| Area footnotes | (2006) |
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| Area total km2 | 84.10 |
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| Area land km2 | 79.74 |
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| Area water km2 | 4.36 |
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| Population as of | 1 December 2009 |
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| Population note | Source: CBS, Statline. |
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| Settlement type | Municipality / City |
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| Population total | 96578 |
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| Population density km2 | auto |
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| Timezone | CET |
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| Utc offset | +1 |
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| Timezone dst | CEST |
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| Utc offset dst | +2 |
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Leeuwarden (, Stadsfries: Liwwadden, Frisian: Ljouwert, ) is the capital city of the Dutch province of Friesland. It is situated in the north of the country.
History
The area has been occupied since the 10th century (although recently, remains of houses dating back to the 2nd century AD were discovered during a dig near the
Oldehove), and was granted a town charter in 1435. Situated along the
Middelzee, it was an active trade centre, until the waterway silted up in the 15th century. In 1901 the city had a population of 32,203.
Famous natives of Leeuwarden include stadtholder William IV of Orange, graphic artist M. C. Escher, and dancer-spy Mata Hari, as well as the theologian Dr. N.H. Gootjes.
, 16 April 1945]]
During World War II, after extensive occupation by the German forces, on 15 April 1945, the Royal Canadian Dragoons, disobeying direct orders, charged into the heavily defended city and defeated the Germans, who were driven out by the next day.
Etymology
The name "Leeuwarden" (or old spelling variants) first came into use for
Nijehove, the most important one of the three villages that later merged into one, in the early 9th century (Villa Lintarwrde' c. 825).
There is much uncertainty about the origin of the city's name. Historian and archivist Wopke Eekhoff summed up a total of over 200 different spelling variants, of which Leeuwarden (Dutch), Liwwadden (Stadsfries) and Ljouwert (West Frisian) are still in use.
The second syllable is easily explained. "Warden", Dutch/Frisian for an artificial dwelling hill, is a designation of a few terps, in accordance with the historical situation.
Population centres
{| class="toccolours" style="margin:0 2em 0 2em"
|
Dutch name||
Frisian name||ALIGN="right"|
2005 census
|-
|Leeuwarden||
Ljouwert||ALIGN="right"|86,324
|-
|
Goutum||
Goutum||ALIGN="right"|2,624
|-
|
Wirdum||
Wurdum||ALIGN="right"|1,236
|-
|
Wijtgaard||
Wytgaard||ALIGN="right"|626
|-
|
Lekkum||
Lekkum||ALIGN="right"|469
|-
|
Snakkerburen||
Snakkerbuorren||ALIGN="right"|206
|-
|
Hempens||
Himpens||ALIGN="right"|175
|-
|
Swichum||
Swichum||ALIGN="right"|60
|-
|
Miedum||
Miedum||ALIGN="right"|30
|-
|
Teerns||
Tearns||ALIGN="right"|16
|-
|Total||||ALIGN="right"|91,766
|-
|Source:
|}
Architecture
Well-known buildings in the city centre include the
Kanselarij (the former chancellery), the
Stadhouderlijk hof, former residence of the stadtholders of Friesland, the
Waag (old trade centre of the city), the church of St. Bonifatius and the leaning tower
Oldehove. The tallest building in the city is the 115 metre tall Achmeatoren (
Achmea insurance tower).
Leeuwarden is also the site of the country's largest cattle market, and on Ascension Day, the largest flower market in the Netherlands is held here. The Froskepôlemolen is the last surviving windmill of over 130 known to have stood in Leeuwarden. The remains of the Cammingha-Buurstermolen were demolished in 2000. The bases of two other windmills, Wielinga-Stam and De Haan also survive.
Education
Leeuwarden has a number of respected
universities of applied science (HBO in Dutch), such as the
Van Hall Instituut (agricultural and life sciences), the
Stenden University(economical and catering) and the
Noordelijke Hogeschool Leeuwarden (economical, technical and arts).
Although the city has no scientific university, several dependencies are located here, including the Wageningen University, Universiteit Twente and the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. About 16,000 students, among them an increasing number of foreign students, study at technical schools. Besides higher education, the city is also home to two regional vocational schools (MBO): the Friese Poort and Friesland College.
Sport
Leeuwarden is the starting and finishing point for the celebrated
Elfstedentocht, a 200 km-long
speed skating race over the Frisian waterways that is held when winter conditions in the province allow. It last took place in January 1997, preceded by the races of 1986 and 1985. The city's local football team,
Cambuur Leeuwarden plays in the
Eerste Divisie. In the season 2005/06, the club narrowly escaped bankruptcy. Its
Cambuurstadion opened in 1995. The football team has proposed plans for a new stadium in the east side of the city, which will cost €35 million.
Politics
Leeuwarden, as capital of the province of
Friesland, is seat of the provincial authorities.
Notable people from Leeuwarden
Havank
Cisca Dresselhuys
Maurits Cornelis Escher
Femme Gaastra
Richard Hageman
Wijerd Jelckama
Willem van Haren
Mata Hari
Johannes Henricus Gerardus Jansen
Piet Paaltjens
Joachim van Plettenberg
Tjitske Reidinga
J. Slauerhoff
Pieter Jelles Troelstra
Cornelis Adriaan Lobry van Troostenburg de Bruyn
Saskia van Uylenburg
Lodewijk Caspar Valckenaer
Dirk van Erp
Hans Vredeman de Vries
Harm Wiersma
Transport
Train routes with starting number of the
train number series:
500 IC Den Haag Centraal / Rotterdam Centraal - Groningen / Leeuwarden
700 IC Schiphol / Amsterdam Centraal - Groningen / Leeuwarden
30000 R Leeuwarden - Stavoren
30100 R Leeuwarden - Harlingen Haven
30200 R/D Groningen - Leeuwarden
There are also bus lines:
13 Leeuwarden -> Drachten/Steenwijk (Surhuisterveen, Harkema)
14 Leeuwarden -> Drachten
19 Leeuwarden -> Drachten (Hurdegaryp, Burgum, Suameer)
20 Leeuwarden -> Heerenveen (Drachten)
21 Leeuwarden -> Heerenveen (Drachten)
22 Leeuwarden -> Warten
28 Leeuwarden -> Heerenveen (Grou)
50 Leeuwarden -> Dokkum
51 Leeuwarden -> Dokkum (Damwoude)
54 Leeuwarden -> Dokkum (Stiens,Holwerd)
60 Leeuwarden -> Dokkum (Stiens,Holwerd)
62 Leeuwarden -> Buitenpost (Kollum)
66 Leeuwarden -> Ameland (Holwerd)
70 Leeuwarden -> Sint Annaparochie (Minnertsga)
71 Leeuwarden -> Harlingen (Minnertsga)
72 Leeuwarden -> Sint Annaparochie (Minnertsga)
73 Leeuwarden -> Oude Biltzijl (Minnertsga)
93 Leeuwarden -> Sneek
94 Leeuwarden -> Sneek
95 Leeuwarden -> Joure
97 Leeuwarden -> Harlingen (Franeker)
320 Leeuwarden -> Drachten
350 Leeuwarden -> Alkmaar
513 Leeuwarden -> Drachten (Surhuisterveen)
521 Leeuwarden -> Drachten
And there are citybuses. Most buslines are operated by Connexxion and a few (line 10,13,14 and 320) are operated by Qbuzz
See also
Frisian Solar Challenge
Slauerhoffbrug ‘Flying’ Drawbridge
References
Further reading
Groot, P.J. de, Karstkarel, G.P. & Kuipers, W.H., 1984.
Leeuwarden, beeld van een stad. Zeven eeuwen stadsleven in woord en beeld. ISBN 90 3301341X.
Jansma, K., 1981.
Friesland en zijn 44 gemeenten ISBN 90 6480 015 4.
External links
Official Website
Official site of the Stichting Bonifatiustoren.
Working and Living in Leeuwarden
Category:Cities in the Netherlands
Category:Cities in Friesland
Category:Populated places in Friesland
Category:Provincial capitals of the Netherlands
