Leeuwarden, Provincial capital in northern Netherlands
Leeuwarden is the capital of the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands and sits within a network of canals and waterways. The leaning Oldehove tower rises above the old town rooftops, while narrow lanes between brick houses lead to small squares and bridges.
Three neighboring villages merged in the 9th century into a settlement that grew through trade in cattle and grain. In 1435 the town officially received city rights and later became the seat of the governors of Friesland.
The name comes from the Frisian word for "lion forest" and the city still serves as the cultural heart of the province. The center is lined with 17th- and 18th-century townhouses along the waterways, where locals live and work in the same buildings their ancestors used.
The city center is easy to explore on foot or by bicycle, as most points of interest lie close together. Many facilities offer information in Dutch and English, while signs in the center often include Frisian text as well.
A Canadian military unit has displayed the city flag at their bases since the 1945 liberation as a sign of connection. The leaning Oldehove tower was never finished because it began to sink during construction and workers stopped building.
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