Friesland

province of the Netherlands

Friesland (Fryslân in West Frisian, Friesland in Dutch) is a province in the north of the Netherlands. The capital (city) of Friesland is Leeuwarden (Ljouwert in Frisian). People in Friesland speak West Frisian and Dutch. People also speak Frisian in a small part of Groningen (province), and in East Friesland and North Friesland in Germany. In North Holland there is a region called West Friesland, but people who live there are not called Frisians. About 660,000 people are living in Friesland (2023).

Friesland
Fryslân / Friesland
Province
Kroon's Polders (municipality of Vlieland)
Kroon's Polders (municipality of Vlieland)
Flag of Friesland
Coat of arms of Friesland
Map: Province of Friesland in the NetherlandsSouth HollandNorth HollandFrieslandGroningenDrentheFlevolandOverijsselGelderlandUtrechtLimburgNorth BrabantZeeland (province)
Map: Province of Friesland in the Netherlands
Location
Map
Map
Coordinates: 53°8′N 5°49′E / 53.133°N 5.817°E / 53.133; 5.817
CountryNetherlands
Established1815
SeatLeeuwarden
Area
 • Total5,753 km2 (2,221 sq mi)
 • Land3,340 km2 (1,290 sq mi)
 • Water2,413 km2 (932 sq mi)
Highest elevation
45 m (148 ft)
Lowest elevation
−2 m (−7 ft)
Population
 (2023)
 • Total660,000
 • Density197/km2 (510/sq mi)
Websitewww.fryslan.frl

Agriculture and tourism, on the lakes and the isles in the Wadden Sea, are important sources of income.

The province is also famous for its ice skaters and its Elfstedentocht (Eleven cities tour), an ice skating race of 200 kilometers.

It is also known for being home to some breeds of animals, such as the Stabyhoun and Wetterhoun dog breeds, the Friesian horse breed and the Holstein Friesian cattle breed.

Notable Frisians

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In Friesland the Frisians live. They are an old ethnic group. Members of this ethnic group are:

Population

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In 2021, Friesland had a population of 651,459 and a population density of 196/km2 (510/sq mi).

The years 1880–1900 showed slower population growth due to a farm crisis during which some 20,000 Frisians emigrated to the United States.[1]

Historical population of Friesland[2][3]
Year Population
1714 129,243
1748 135,195
1796 161,513
1811 175,366
1830 204,909
1840 227,859
1850 243,191
1860 269,701
1870 300,863
1880 329,877
1890 335,558
1900 340,263
Year Population
1910 363,625
1920 385,362
1930 402,051
1940 424,462
1950 465,267
1960 478,206
1970 521,820
1982 592,314
1990 599,151
1999 621,222
2010 646,305
2020 649,944

 

Anthropometry

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Since the late Middle Ages, Friesland is known for the exceptional height of its inhabitants.[4] Even early Renaissance poet Dante Alighieri refers to the height of Frisians in his Divine Comedy when, in the canticle about Hell, he talks about the magnitude of an infernal demon by stating that "not even three tall Frieslanders, were they set one upon the other, would have matched his height".[5]

References

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  1. (in Dutch) Emigration to the United States.
  2. (in Dutch) Overzicht aantal inwoners Provincie Friesland 1714–2000, Tresoar.
  3. (in Dutch) Bevolking; geslacht, leeftijd, burgerlijke staat en regio, 1 januari, Statistics Netherlands, 2014.
  4. "The Dutch are getting taller, and heavier, but Frisians top the list". DutchNews.nl. 2019-11-27. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  5. Alighieri, Dante. Divine Comedy, "Inferno", Canto 31, line 64, in The Portable Dante, ed. Paolo Milano, trans. Laurence Binyon, Penguin, 1975 ISBN 0-14-015032-3

Other websites

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