| Friesland - Another Holland
Welcome to a unique, different part of Holland! In Friesland people are very proud of their cultural heritage and own language, Frysk/Frisian which dates back to the 8th century. This language is an important part of the Frisian identity and 70 % of the residents still speak it daily. In 1997 the Dutch name of the region, Friesland, was officially replaced by its Frisian name Fryslân. The province also has its own flag with seven red water lily leaves.
The Eleven cities of Friesland are famous for the ice-skating competition which gathers participants all over the country, but they are worth visiting all year round. About 92 000 people live in the capital Leeuwarden, the total population of Friesland being 643 000 inhabitants (2005).
Friesland is a fertile dairy and cattle raising region where beautiful rural landscape is decorated with numerous canals, small rivers and picturesque lakes. Because of its versatile waterways, Friesland is one of the most attractive watersports areas in Europe. It is full of marinas and boat rental places. In addition to water activities like surfing, fishing and sailing, also cycling and bird-watching are very popular here. A unique activity is mud walking on the flats that fall dry between the main land and the Waddenzee islands near the coastline.
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| ELEVEN CITIES |
| Bolsward (Boalsert) |
| Dokkum (Dokkum) |
| Franeker (Frjentsjer) |
| Harlingen (Harns) |
| Hindeloopen (Hylpen) |
| Leeuwarden (Ljouwert) |
| Sloten (Sleat) |
| Sneek (Snits) |
| Stavoren (Starum) |
| Ijlst (Drylts) |
| Workum (Warkum) | (Frisian names in brackets) |
