FRIESLAND  >  THE NETHERLANDS  >  INDEX


Holidays in Friesland  -  Travel Information Friesland.

Frisian Islands : Ameland, Schiermonnikoog, Terschelling, Vlieland

Regions in Friesland : The Wadden Sea area, The Frisian clay region, The eleven cities, The 'Low Midlands', The 'Wouden' and The IJsselmeer

Municipalities in Friesland : Achtkarspelen, Ameland, Bolsward, Boarnsterhim, Dantumadeel, Dongeradeel, Ferwerderadiel, Franekeradeel, Gaasterlân-Sleat, Harlingen, Heerenveen, Het Bildt, Kollumerland en Nieuwkruisland, Leeuwarden, Leeuwarderadeel, Lemsterland, Littenseradiel, Menaldumadeel, Nijefurd, Ooststellingwerf, Opsterland, Schiermonnikoog, Skarsterlân, Smallingerland, Sneek, Terschelling, Tytsjerksteradiel, Vlieland, Weststellingwerf, Wûnseradiel and Wymbritseradiel

Centuries old, and yet ... changing with every hour. From north to south, from east to west, Fryslân enjoys a rich variation of landscape that's worth seeing and experiencing. Ice, water and centuries-old human influence all did their part to create this abundance. The care and attention of today's inhabitants have made sure that all those regions with their unique characteristics are guaranteed a safe future existence.

Capital City of Friesland : Leeuwarden


car hire, holiday homes, hostels, hotels, travel agency, travel guides, transportation / traveling to friesland 

links


Camping & Caravanning in Friesland

 Eurocampings  -  ACSI Camping Guide

Bike Rental

There are several addresses in Friesland where you can rent a bike, for very reasonable prices. You will find most Rent-a-Bike's at the main railway stations. On the Wadden Islands there are several privately owned Rent-a-Bikes.

Boat Rental

 Cruise Blue Lines
 Friesland Boating - departures from Koudum and Giethoorn
Friesland Boating rents the so called 'houseboats' as well as te wellknown motorcruisers

Car Hire Friesland

 Holiday Autos  -    
Holiday Autos offers the best fully inclusive car hire prices. Get cheap car hire quickly and securely online with holidayautos.co.uk, the experts in online car rental.

More rental Companies? See Page Car Rentals

Holiday Homes / Apartment

 Euro Relais  -  Holiday Cottages in the Netherlands
Charming villa or mill? Country cottage, mansion or farmhouse? Discover their special holiday homes and book online!

 Bungalow.net  -  Holiday homes Netherlands 

See also the general Page Holiday Homes

Hostels

 Stayokay Heeg, It Eilan 65, 8621 CT Heeg
Heeg, a lovely village surrounded by Frisian lakes. All around you there's space and, if you prefer, tranquillity. If it's action you're after, go sailing, walking, cycling, visit nearby cities and villages: everything is possible around Stayokay Heeg!
Stayokay Heeg is ideally located: a former island on the edge of the Heegermeer, the largest lake in Friesland. There is so much room. Head for the pitch or the survival course. The hostel even has a harbor and boathouse with authentic flat-bottomed Tjotters. In nice weather, enjoy the terrace. The two restaurants feature delicious fare, from breakfast buffets to dinners.

 
Hostelbookers.com is one of the worlds largest online booking services for hostels. All hostels you see here are offering realtime prices and availability. We do not charge a fee to use this service.

 Stayokay  -  Sneek, Grauw and Terschelling Island
Stayokay is a chain of hostels located throughout the Netherlands. You will find our hostels at surprisingly lovely places: in the dunes, the woods, along the water or in the city. Stayokay hostels are housed in different unique buildings, ranging from modern facilities to castles or country houses.

Hotels Friesland

 Hotels in Friesland  -  Hotel Guide Friesland
Hotels in Leeuwarden, Nes, West-Terschelling, Oost-Vlieland, Harlingen, Heerenveen, Schiermonnikoog, Workum, Drachten, Sneek, Dokkum, Oosterend, and more ...

   

 

National Parks / Nature Reserve

 National Park Alde Feanen / De oude Venen  -  also known as the Princenhof
De Alde Feanen National Park lies in the heart of the province of Friesland. It is a vast fenland consisting of large pools, lakes, former turf ponds, reed vegetation, quaking bog and fields of Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustrus). It came about as a result of turf-cutting between the 17th and 19th centuries. There are more than 450 plant sorts and 100 bird sorts to be found here. Water, marsh and meadow birds feel particularly at home in De Alde Feanen. The national park attracts many tourists annually, among them more than 200,000 watersportsmen. Besides sailing the area is also very suitable for trekking and cycling.
Visitors can find more information about this beautiful area in the visitor's centre De Reidplum of It Fryske Gea.
 National Park Drents-Friese Wold 
On the border between the provinces of Friesland and Drenthe lies Drents-Friese Wold National Park, the second largest woodland area in the Netherlands.
Within these extensive woodlands one can find beautiful inland dunes, the Aekingerzand. This area lies next to a recently restored valley and a beautiful fen, De Grenspoel. But the beautiful moorlands of Doldersum and Wapse are also worth mentioning. Butterflies such as the Alcon Blue (maculinea alcon) and the Dwarf Rattlesnake Plantain of the orchid family (Goodyera repens) are just two examples of the special flora and fauna to be found in the park.
More than one million tourists visit this park of 6,100 hectares annually. There are as many as 32 marked walks, and also many cycle paths and horse-drawncart and nature paths. Visitors can watch out for unusual bird sorts from the watch towers in Doldersumveld and De Aekingerzand. The visitor's centre can be found in Appelscha and there's also an information centre in Diever.
 National Park Lauwersmeer
In the northmost part of the Netherlands, on the border between the provinces of Friesland and Groningen, lies a unique nature reserve of 6,000 hectares, Lauwersmeer National Park. In this vast and vibrant landscape the tranquillity is almost tangible. Up until 30 years ago the Waddenzee had the upper hand here, but to combat flooding a dike was built and as a result the Lauwersmeer was created. It was soon apparent that an exceptional environment had developed.
The Lauwersmeer region is now renowned for it's fields of purple orchids, flowering in May and June. Among the daily visitors are rare birds such as the Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), the Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) and the Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus). During the winter hundreds of thousands of migrating birds stay here, the Bewick's Swan (Cygnus colobianus), Wigeion (Anas penelope) and the Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) among them.
By grazing Scottish Highlanders and Konik horses the landscape remains 'open'. Visitors can cycle, trek, canoe, sail and birdwatch.
 National Park Schiermonnikoog
Schiermonnikoog National Park was finally established in 1989. This most northerly of the inhabited Dutch 'Wadden' islands consists mainly of dunes and salt marshes and has a very wide North-Sea strand. Because cars are prohibited, except for holders of a special license, it's a paradise for cyclists and trackers. Schiermonnikoog is visited annually by approximately 300,000 people, 100,000 of which are day-trippers.
The largest part of the nature reserve falls under the management of Natuurmonumenten, while the sea dikes are the responsibility of Rijkswaterstaat. The eastern point of Schiermonnikoog has the most unrept nature in the Netherlands. The landscape changes daily under the influence of wind and water. National Park Schiermonnikoog is an island of natural tranquillity.

Travel Agents / Tour Operator

    -  Create your perfect trip  -  Flight, Hotel and Car

 Crown Blue Lines  -  boating holidays
Cruising on Friesland's tranquile waterways is one of the best ways to discover the real flavour of this province in the north east of the Netherlands. Images of serene sailing boats, waterside cycle routes, neatly kept marinas and nature parks combine with traditional dutch hospitality.
 Farm Holidays in the Netherlands 
 HF Holidays  -  Anglodutchsports  -  cycling holiday  -  IJssel Lake
Discover the 17th century trading towns and picturesque fishing villages that surround the Lake IJssel. Visit the remains of the town's fortifications in Enkhuizen, the old Hanseatic port of Stavoren, the beaches of Harderwijk and the pretty town of Eemnes.
Hoorn [ North Holland ] - Ferry across the IJssel Lake to Stavoren [ Friesland ] - Ossenzijl - Zwartsluis - Harderwijk [ Overijssel ] - Eemnes - Weesp - Amsterdam
 Abercrombie & Kent  -  Canal & River Cruising



 Farm Holidays in the Netherlands  -  Hoeve-Logies Nederland 
Dutch Farm Holiday Bureau has organized farmers, growers and citizens-owners of caracteristique farms. Every farm-owner gives you a friendly and special welcome. Guests from abroad may smell the rural hospitality and enjoy the surroundings. Bed and breakfast with linen included, lunch and dinner outdoors.
Three types of lodging : Bed and breakfast, Apartments and group facilties, Small-scale stay at the farm.

Travel Guide Friesland / Related books

Amazon.com - Travel Guides Netherlands 

Holland Insight Compact Guide (Insight Compact Guides S.) 

Transport / How do I travel to Friesland

 Groningen Airport  -  Groningen Airport Eelde
Regional airport for the northern Netherlands.

  Opodo  -   
Flight tickets to the Netherlands, Flight tickets Amsterdam, Flight tickets Rotterdam, Flight tickets Eindhoven Airport, Flight tickets Maastricht Airport.

  KLM UK  

 

   
From London Luton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

 
Book cheap flights to Holland at ebookers and benefit from discounted airfares. View their latest offers and book your flights, accommodation, car hire and insurance online

Singapore Airlines  -  Direct flights from London to Amsterdam

  Airline Tickets / Bargain Flights  -  Amsterdam Airport / Rotterdam Airport

DFDS Seaways
Newcastle - IJmuiden / Amsterdam [ visiting Amsterdam, Gouda, Haarlem, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and more ]

   - Hull to Rotterdam
P&O Ferries is one of the most well known and trusted brands. Wherever you are travelling to, on holiday or on business, P&O Ferries offers a wide range of routes.

  Norfolk Line
Ferries to France from Dover ( cross-channel ferry ).

  -  Eurolines  -  coach line to the most important cities

 NS Domestic  -  Dutch Railways - Journey Planner, Ticket Information, Station Facilities
You can travel by train from Amsterdam to Leeuwarden and Harlingen

You can travel by bus almost everywhere in Friesland

 9292ov  -  Public Transport in the Netherlands [ dutch only ]

Ferries: The ferry to Vlieland and Terschelling departs from the city of Harlingen, the ferry to Ameland departs from the city of Holwerd and the ferry to Schiermonnikoog departs from Lauwersoog

 Get me there - Toyota service
Traffic Monitor, Route Planner, Weather Map, Weather Forecast, Destination Guide, Location Manager
 RAC European Route Planner - Plan routes for the UK and Europe


Links 

 Travel Insurance

 Beleef Friesland  -  Fryslân Marketing

 Beleef Noord-Nederland [ Tourist Board Northern Netherlands ]

  Provinsje Fryslân  -  Province of Friesland 

 Leeuwarden  -  capital city of Friesland
The city centre reveals many relics of the past including canals, bridges and old houses with superb facades. There are also great shopping streets and cosy pubs and cafes. Worth visiting is the weigh-house (1589) at Nieuwestad which was the old trading centre for butter and cheese, it now houses a restaurant. The towns symbol is the leaning Oldhove tower (16th c). In the town square is the townhall, built in 1713, around the corner is the palace of justice. At the Voorstreek you find a beautiful and imposing neogothic church from the late 19th century.

 Aldeboarn  -  Nature Park De Deelen
See Deelen route [ with map and partners ]
 Mid-Friesland [ Middle Friesland ]

 Ameland [ Island ]  -  main village is Ballum
 Schiermonnikoog [ Island ]
 Terschelling [ Island ]  -  main village is West-Terschelling
 Vlieland [ Island ]  -  main village is Oost-Vlieland

 Central and West Friesland
Municipalities / villages : Bolsward, Gaasterland -Sloten, Langweer-Joure, lemsterland, Makkum-Wunseradiel, Mid-Fryslan, Nijefurd, Wymbritseradiel and Sneek.

 Achtkarspelen  -  Municipality Achtkarspelen  -  Buitenpost
 Bolsward  -  Municipality Bolsward  -  Bolsward - 550 years city rights
 Boarnsterhim  -  Municipality Boarnsterhim  -  Grou
 Dantumadeel  -  Municipality Dantumadeel  -  Damwoude
 Dongeradeel  -  Municipality Dongeradeel  -  main center is Dokkum
 Ferwerderadiel  -  Municipality Ferwerderadiel  -  Ferwert
 Franekeradeel  -  Municipality Franekeradeel  -  Franeker
Consists of : Achlum, Dongjum, Firdgum, Herbayum, Hitzum , Oosterbierum, Peins, Pietersbierum, Ried, Schalsum, Sexbierum, Tzummarum, Tzum, Zweins en de buurtschappen Klooster Lidlum and Boer.
 Gaasterlân-Sleat  -  Balk
 Harlingen  -  Municipality Harlingen  -  most important port Province Friesland
 Heerenveen  -  Municipality Heerenveen [ central-south-Friesland ]
 Het Bildt  -  Municipality Het Bildt  -  Sint Annaparochie
 Kollumerland en Nieuwkruisland  -  Municipality Kollumerland  -  Kollum
 Langezwaag
 Leeuwarden  -  Municipality Leeuwarden
 Leeuwarderadeel  -  Stiens
 Lemsterland  -  Lemmer
 Littenseradiel  -  Wommels
 Menaldumadeel  -  Menaldum
 Nijefurd  -  Workum
 Ooststellingwerf  -  Oosterwolde
 Opsterland  -  Beetsterzwaag
 Skarsterlân  -  Joure
 Smallingerland  -  Drachten
 Sneek  -  water sports centre
 Tytsjerksteradiel  -  Burgum
 Weststellingwerf  -  Wolvega
 Wûnseradiel  -  Witmarsum
 Wymbritseradiel  -  IJlst

 Former municipalities in Friesland  -  Wikipedia

 Wadden Sea area
A large part of Fryslân has been and continues to be formed by the sea. This is most evident in and around the Wadden Sea, where ebb and flow occur every six hours, providing an almost complete alternation of land and water. This activity makes for a unique wildlife area with a unique abundance of birds and fish.
 Elfsteden - 'Eleven cities'
For centuries the Frisian sea clay region was a thriving area. This is apparent from the fact that all of Fryslân's eleven cities are located in this region. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries they developed into centres that played important roles in the trade and services of the day, and in a few cases (Harlingen, Stavoren) they became seaports from which Frisian agricultural products were exported.
 Frisian clay region
Fertile fields, green meadows, a grand landscape with dikes and terps filling the horizon. This is a picture of northern and western Fryslân, a region that was slowly reclaimed from the sea in the distant past
 Frisian Low Midlands
From the south of Dokkum to Stavoren: one quick look at a map of Fryslân reveals a region abounding in water along this strip that stretches from the northeast to the southwest. It's an area full of lakes, waterways and ditches, alternating with pastureland rich in peat. This is Fryslân's 'low midlands'.
 The 'Wouden'
Along Fryslân's eastern and southern borders, in a higher sandy area, lies an-other typical kind of landscape called the 'Wouden'. The common denominator here is a landscape whose banks of trees and shrubs surrounding the meadows and fields gives it a protected character.
 IJssel Lake
From salt water to fresh ... after the closing of the Afsluitdijk in 1932, a tremendous change took place in the huge body of water located to the west of Fryslân - once the Zuiderzee and now the IJsselmeer. Formerly it was a rich fishing region where herring, anchovies and flounder were caught. Prosperous seaports lay on its banks, bustling with international trade.
Today fish are still being caught - pike perch, eel and smelt - but the great age of the Zuiderzee fishing industry has disappeared. A new 'fresh water environment' has developed, with its own following: during the summer you see more and more water sports enthusiasts passing through the locks at the old trading towns of Lemmer and Stavoren.

 Aldeboarn  -  Nature area De Deelen
 Eernewoude
Originally Eernewoude was a village inhabbited by fisherman and peat cutters, it was also a centre of reed production, it is now an important water sports centre. The Skutsje museum records the history of the well known flat bottom boats (Skutjes). The sail and mast making workshops should also be visited. Close to the village is the famous nature reserve. De oude Venen also known as the Princenhof where you will find beautiful mooring places in natural surroundings.
 Fishing  -  Frisian lakes, canals and the sea
You can fish almost everywhere. You can either take your fishing rod and sit on the banks of a lake or a canal, or you can sign up for a sea-fishing trip on a boat on the Yssel lake, the Waddensea or the North Sea. See for mote indo the 'Viskaart voor Friesland / Fishing map for Friesland', avalable at the tTourist Boards with plenty information about fishing spots, accommodations like boat rental, slipways, fishing as well as behaviour rules and descriptions of the fishing waters and fishes that can be caught.
 Grou
Full or character, the little shipping village of Grou on the shores of the Pikmeer has developed into a popular international water sports centre for Friesland as elsewhere in the Frisian lake district the Pikmeer is ideal for season sailing.
 Harlingen
A north sea coastal town with a rich collection of historic buildings reminiscent of the heyday of trading and shipping, the town centre is an intricate mixture of period buildings and narrow alleyways. Voorstraat is the shopping centre in Harlingen. Take a trip on one of the old sailing ships from the "bruine vloot" (brown fleet) formerly belonging to the largest merchant fleet in the Netherlands. Ferry services to and from Vlieland and Terschelling run from Harlingen
 Heeg  -  in the south west of Friesland
A a special place, from 1731 until the 1930's, eel boats set sail from there on route for London. The captains houses in the centre of Heeg are a superb legacy from this period. Heeg is pretty town catering for tourists, with good restaurants, cafes by the waterfront and a lively night life.
 Koudum
The village is situated on the lake district of the Fluessen and the Morra, on the border of the Woods of Gaasterland and the IJsselmeer. The landscape which was formed in the ice ages gives the countryside a hilly character. In the areas around Koudum, you can find numerous cycle paths through nature reserves and alongside lakes.
 Middle Friesland  -  Mid-Fryslân
Almost every village in Mid-Fryslân is connected through lakes and all sorts of waterways. So it's not to be wondered that water sports play a central role in Mid-Fryslân. Populaire watersport centers like Grou, Aernewald , Terherne and Akkrum are generally known, while also the smaller places like Jirnsum, Warten, Wergea en Aldeboarn are coming up as typical Frisian watersports villages. Mid-Fryslân is niet alleen bij uitstek geschikt voor de grote watersport, ook voor kano- en roeiliefhebbers bieden de vele sloten en kleine vaartjes ongekende mogelijkheden.
 ms Oosterkim, Deventer, tel 0570-613648 - river cruises
 Sloten - the smallest of the eleven Frisian towns.
A charming fortified town with ramparts, two impressive water gates and an old windmill built in the 18th century which is a landmark for the area. Sloten still possesses the atmosphere of its hey days. The towns beautiful gables are reflected in the tree lined central canal.
 Sneek week [ sailing regatta's and fair ]  -  Tourist Board Sneek
 Speelpark Duinenzathe in Appelscha, Friesland
 Skutjesilen  -  official website of the 'Sintrale Kommisje Skûtsjesilen'
 Vaartips  -  nautiscal knowledge bank  -  information and advice
Vaarroutes Friese meren ZW, Friese meren NO, Franeker-Hralingen, Dokkum en Lange Turfroute
 Wadlopen - walking through the Waddensea
During the ebb of the sea you can (together with an experienced guide) take a walk across (nearly) dried up sandbanks from the mainland at Holwerd or Wierum to the islands of Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. Thus you walk through one of The Netherlands's, perhaps even one of the world's, most unique natural resorts.
 Walking in Friesland
Friesland has a lot of woods, moors and sandy plains, especially in the south and south-west in Gaasterland, in the south-east near the city of Appelscha and on all of the Frisian islands. They offer a great opportunity to walk along the specially constructed paths. The 'Boswachterij Appelscha/Smilde' in the south-east is known to be one of the Netherlands's largest.
 Workum  -  Jopie Huisman Museum      

Cuisine - Frisian Foods - Recipes

 Beerenburg  - 'Us nasjonale slokje' [ national Frisian drink ]
 Bintje [ potatoe ]
 Drabbelkoeken [ Drabbel Cookies ]
When you visit Sneek you should savour the famous local delicacy of 'drabbelkoeken' a sweet and tasty cake, and take a stroll through the attractive shopping streets.
 Friese recepten [ Frisian recipes ]
 Hete Bliksem [ hot lightning ]
 Friese pot  -  from sipelsop and snorrepotsje
Paperback | 94 Pages | Ruitenberg Boek | 2004
 Frysk Hynder  -  Frisian whisky
 Tafelen in Friesland
 Us Heit  -  dark beer with a sweet taste from Bolsward

 Dutch Cooking

History of Friesland  -  Frysian History

2004 was the Year of Bonifatius - in remembrance of the english priest Bonifatius, who was murdered becaus of his catholic believe on the 5th of Juni 754 at Dokkum. See also the story of Saint Willibord

 Frisian Museum in Leeuwarden
 Historical Center City of Leeuwarden  -  Community Archive
 Joure Museum
 Fries Genootschap  -  Royal Frisian Company for History and Culture
 Fries Scheepvaartmuseum [ Frisian Maritime Museum ]
 Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden  -  archive of the municipality of Leeuwarden

 A concise history of the Netherlands
This website has been created by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and contains a brief account of the history of the Netherlands. Users can search for information under fifty different dates and seven separate themes. The dates have been carefully chosen to cover key periods in Dutch history. Brief details are given of each of them and various links can be used to obtain further information about the period in question.
Formation of the Netherlands, Dutch Republic at war, Golden Age, Kingdom of the netherlands. etc.

Music, Culture & Entertainment

 Folsgearster-folk - Folk music

 Frisian Museum in Leeuwarden, Turfmarkt 11 [ Frisian Museum ]
 Sielesalt by Nynke Laverman  -  Nynke Laverman - Frisian Fado's
o.a. De iensumen, De frou oan it finster, Vida triste, r wie ris, De ûntdekker, Angústia, Foar de fiere prins, O enjeitado
Pink Records, Fama 196001

Web Portal / Dutch Search Engine / Directories

 Fryslansite
 Biblonet Fryslan [ Library ]
 Fryhoo!
 FRLgids  -  starting page for Friesland
 Noorderbreedte - Magazine about Northern Netherlands
 Startpagina Friesland  -  starting page

 Yahoo  -  Directories in Friesland

 Gouden Gids  -  Dutch Yellow Guide
 Telefoonboek KPN  -  Dutch White Guide


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