Leeuwarden, Provincial capital in northern Netherlands
Description
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.
History
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.
Culture
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.
Practical
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.
Did you know?
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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Oldehove
282 m
Blokhuispoort
570 m
Achmeatoren
282 m
Aquazoo Friesland
6.3 km
Slauerhoffbrug
1.8 km
Fries Museum
209 m
Elfstedenmonument
6.2 km
Saint Boniface church, Leeuwarden
814 m
Us Mem
489 m
Prinsentuin
466 m
Stadhouderlijk Hof
326 m
Princessehof Ceramics Museum
285 m
Waag
265 m
Grote of Jacobijnerkerk
512 m
Tresoar
322 m
Kanselarij
664 m
Gabbemagasthuis
880 m
Park Vijversburg
7.8 km
Grafkelder van de Friesche Nassau's
512 m
Provinciehuis Leeuwarden
530 m
Dekemastate
3.7 km
Iisfretter
1.6 km
Sint-Vituskerk
301 m
Synagoge
603 m
Leeuwarden City Hall
305 m
De Harmonie, Leeuwarden
129 mElfstedenhal
1.5 km
Paleis van Justitie
97 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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