Sneek

Official name	Sneek
Native name	Snits
Settlement type	City
Image alt	Gate Waterpoort
Flag size	120x100px
Flag alt	Flag of Sneek
Shield size	120x100px
Shield alt	Coat of arms of Sneek
Coordinates display	inline,title
Coordinates region	NL
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	Netherlands
Subdivision type1	Province
Subdivision name1	Friesland
Area footnotes	(2006)
Area total km2	34.04
Area land km2	30.18
Area water km2	3.85
Population as of	1 January 2007
Population note	Source: CBS, Statline.
Population total	33115
Population density km2	1097
Timezone	CET
Utc offset	+1
Timezone dst	CEST
Utc offset dst	+2
Latns	N
Longew	E

and Joan Blaeu in 1652]] (sweet factory) (2008)]] (2007)]] (2007)]]

Sneek (; ) is a city southwest of Leeuwarden and the former seat of the Municipality Sneek in the province of Friesland (Netherlands). As for 2011 it is part of the municipality Súdwest Fryslân. The city has approximately 33.000 inhabitants.

Sneek is situated in Southwest-Friesland, close to the Sneekermeer and is well known for its canals, the Waterpoort (Watergate, the symbol of the city), and watersport (Sneekweek). Sneek is one of the Friese elf steden (Eleven cities). The city is very important for the southwest area of Friesland (the "Zuidwesthoek").

History

History

Sneek is built around a waterway (in old documents called the Magna Fossa) The waterway to the north (Geeuw, Sneeker Oudvaart) was needed because the Middelzee was silted. The old hemdijk comes in as the "Hemdijk", turns into the "Oude Dijk" and becomes the "Wijde en Nauwe Noorderhornes" before it goes on as the "Peperstraat" and the "Wijde en Nauwe Burgstraten", it is eventually the base of the busy shoppingstreet the "Oosterdijk", and leaves the city as the "Griene Dyk".

Sneek received several city rights in the 13th century, which became official in 1456. Sneek was now one of the eleven Frisian cities. This was also the beginning of a blooming trading city that would last until the year 1550. In 1492 they began building a ditch and wall around the city. In those days Sneek was the only city in Friesland that had a wall. Only the waterpoort and the bolwerk are remaining today.

Sister city Kurobe

Since September 10, 1970, Sneek and the Japanese city Kurobe have been sister cities. in 1970 Mayor L. Rasterhoff of Sneek visited the city of Kurobe and was named a Honorary citizen. Mayor H. Terade of Kurobe made a visit to Sneek in 1972. In 2000 delegations of both cities visited each other again. The Japanese showed the citizens of Sneek a "Sneekplein" which was built in Kurobe.

Language

Sneek has its own dialect that dates back to the Dutch language in 1600. Snekers is part of the city Frisian dialects.

Trade and Industry

The famous clothingstore C&A; started in 1841 with a store in Sneek. The Candyfactory Tonnema produces Peppermint under the name KING. This name has nothing to do with the English word KING, it stands for "Quality equaled in nothing". Also Sneek has a Steel, Machinery and a Rope factory. Since 1964 a factory of Yoshida YKK from Kurobe. besides that, the Supermarket branch Poiesz, Clothing brand Gaastra and the old Frisian gin called beerenburg from Weduwe Joustra are products that have their roots in Sneek.

Places of interest

Sneek is well known as the center of watersports with over 130 Watersport-company's and 13 Marinas. Also it has a monumental inner-city with the old and famous gentlemen's houses.

Watergate (1613)

Town hall (1550)

Martinichurch (1498), with a carillon of 50 bells

Sint-Martinuschurch (1872)

Tonnema Candy Factory (1955)

the Wooden bridges across the Rijksweg 7.

Transport

Roads

The following roads connect Sneek with other cities:

A7

N354

Ring Sneek: the city's "ring road"

Public transport

Sneek is accessible by public transport; buses in the region are operated by Connexxion and trains are operated by Arriva.

Line 33 Sneek • Scharnegoutum • Boazum • Wiuwert • Britswert • Easterlittens • Baard • Winsum • Wjelsryp • Tzum • Franeker vv.

Line 42 Sneek • Jutrijp • Hommerts • Woudsend • Tsjerkgaast • Spannenburg • Follega • Eesterga • Lemmer • Rutten • Bant • Emmeloord vv.

Line 46 Sneek • Jutrijp • Hommerts • Heeg • Gaastmeer • Idzega • Oudega vv.

Line 47 Sneek • Jutrijp • Hommerts • Woudsend • Harich • Balk • Sondel • Nijemirdum • Oudemirdum • Rijs • Mirns • Bakhuizen • Hemelum vv.

Line 93 Sneek • Scharnegoutum • Dearsum • Boazum • Easterwierrum • Mantgum • Jorwert • Weidum • Bears • Jellum • Boksum • Deinum • Leeuwarden vv.

Line 94 Sneek • Scharnegoutum • Goenga • Gauw • Sibrandabuorren • Tersoal • Poppenwier • Raerd • Reduzum • Wijtgaard • Wirdum • Goutum • Leeuwarden vv.

Line 98 Heerenveen • Nijehaske • Oudehaske • Haskerhorne • Joure • Sneek • Folsgare • Nijland • Bolsward • Schettens • Witmarsum • Wons • Makkum vv.

Line 99 Heerenveen • Joure • Uitwellingerga • Oppenhuizen • Sneek • Folsgare • Nijland • Bolsward • Schettens • Witmarsum • Arum • Kimswerd • Harlingen vv.

Line 235 Sneek • Offingawier • Scharnegoutum • Lytsewierrum • Rien • Itens • Easterein • Wommels vv.

Line 239 Sneek • IJlst • Abbega • Westhem • Blauwhuis • Dedgum • Parrega • Ferwoude vv.

Line 351 Heerenveen • Joure • Scharsterbrug • Sneek • Bolsward • Kop Afsluitdijk • Zurich • Harlingen vv.

Line 751 Indijk • Oudega • Elahuizen • Sneek • Sloten • Wijckel • Tjerkgaast • Balk vv. Line 761 IJlst • Sneek • Oosthem • Sandfirden • Idzega • Abbega • Westhem • Blauwhuis • Gaastmeer • Oudega • Heeg • Wolsum • Sneek • Greonterp vv.

Line 768 Sneek • Ysbrechtum • Tirns • Offingawier • Dearsum • Gauw • Tersoal • Poppenwier • Sibrandabuorren • Scharnegoutum • Boazum • Goenga • Reahus vv.

Railway Leeuwarden • Mantgum • Sneek Noord • Sneek • IJlst • Workum • Hindelopen • Koudum Molkwerum • Stavoren

Waterways

The following waterways connect Sneek with other cities.

Houkesloot Between Sneek and the Prinses Margrietkanaal.

de Geeuw Between Sneek and IJlst.

de Zwette Between Sneek and Leeuwarden.

Franekervaart Between Sneek and Franeker.

Parking

On the following parking places you can park your car:

Binnenstad Pay

Martiniplein pay

NS-terrein Free

St. Antoniusplein Pay

Bolswarderweg Free

Normandiaplein Pay

Oppenhuizerweg Pay

Oppenhuizerweg (temporary) Free

Veemarktplein Pay

Boschplein (under construction) Pay

Art and Culture

Museums

Fries Scheepvaart Museum Frisian Maritime Museum

Nationaal Modelspoor Museum National Model Train Museum

Podia

Het Bolwerk, very first poppodium of Friesland, since 1975. Member of the Fries Popnet.

Cultural Quarter

In 2010 there will be a Cultural Quarter, The municipal has made plans to connect various Cultural areas into one big Cultural Quarter. the total costs of the plans are about 35,000,000 and includes

The Noorderchurch will house a theater and the Center of the Arts (CvdK)

The Bolwerk will house another part of the CvdK

A new Theatre (Capacity of 600 people) at the location of the current TPG building

The connection between the Theatre and the Bolwerk with a walking bridge and a floating podium in the city canal.

the Public library and the Martinichurch will be connected to the Cultural Quarter

De Silver ball

The Culture Award of Sneek is called The Silver Ball and has been awarded 11 times. The Awards is given annually to a person that has done a improvement/good job on the areas of Music and Culture for Sneek and the area around it. the winners of the previous awards are:

Henk van der Veer, Writer

2005: Maaike Schuurmans, musical player

2006: Yede van Dijk, Acting

2007: Bennie Hoogstra, 25 year Fanfare player

Events

Sneekweek, Sailevent on the Sneekermeer

Swinging Sneek, live-music in cafés and on street

Education

Sneek has eleven primary schools and three high schools

Sport

Sportcomplexes

Sportcentrum Schuttersveld

Sportpark Noorderhoek

Sportpark VV Sneek

Sportpark Leeuwarderweg

Zuidersportpark

Sportclubs

Sneek Wit Zwart(SWZ), Soccerclub

LSC 1890, One of the Oldest soccerclubs in the Netherlands

ONS Sneek, Soccerclub

Black Boys, Soccerclub

Waterpoort boys, Soccerclub

Sneeker MHC, hockeyclub

VC Sneek, volleyballclub

Neptunia'24, waterpoloclub

L.T.C. NOMI, tennisclub

Sportevents

11Stedenfietsvierdaagse Eleven city 4 day bicycle tour

Famous Snekers

Rienck Bockema (ca. 1350-1436)

Pier Gerlofs Donia, (ca. 1480 - 1529), Frisian freedom fighter, rebel and pirate

Murk van Phelsum (1730–1799), physician

Nicolaas Molenaar (1850–1930), architect

Jakob van Schevichaven (1866–1935), detective writer

Geert Aeilco Wumkes (1869–1954), theologian and historian

Willem de Sitter (1872–1934), Scientist

Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (1885–1961), politician

Frits Wissel (1907–1999), pilot, Discoverer of the Wissellakes in New-Guinea.

Kees Deenik (1915–1993) , singer, TV producer

Dieuwkje Nauta (1930–2008), Teacher

Bart Tromp (1944–2007)

Joke Tjalsma (1957), actress

Toon Gerbrands (1957), coach and manager

Pauline Krikke (1961), politician

Manon Thomas (1963), television presenter

Jan Posthuma (1963), international volleyball player

Ronald Zoodsma (1966), international volleyball player

Monique Sluyter (1967), model and television star

Olof van der Meulen (1968), volleyball player

Jan de W. (1980), Creator Anna Kournikova-computervirus

Sherida Spitse (1990), Soccer player

Freke Abma (1988),

Living

Sneek has around 14.000 houses. Half of those houses are rental houses. there are new projects in different neighbourhoods going on, besides the building of new houses, there are plenty of existing rental or normal houses for various prices.

Extra Information

In 1519\1520, the Frisian warlord and freedom fighter Pier Gerlofs Donia spend his last days in Sneek. Donia died peacefully in bed at Grootzand 12 on 18 October 1520. Pier is buried in Sneek in the 15th-century Groote Kerk (also called the Martinikerk). His tomb is located on the north side of the church. This quaint little city has a shopping center that is walker and biker friendly. There are high-end clothing stores, restaurants, bars, music stores, cafes, coffee shops, and an old-fashioned candy store.

References

External links

Official Website

Tourism Sneek

Official Website of the Sneekweek sailing event

Category:Cities in the Netherlands Category:Cities in Friesland Category:Populated places in Friesland