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Achtkarspelen
Municipality
Road into Surhuizum
Road into Surhuizum
Flag of Achtkarspelen
Flag
 Coat of arms of Achtkarspelen
Coat of arms
Position of Achtkarspelen in a map of Friesland
Location in Friesland
Country Netherlands
Province Friesland
Government
 • Body Municipal council
Area
 • Total 103.98 km2 (40.15 sq mi)
 • Land 102.40 km2 (39.54 sq mi)
 • Water 1.58 km2 (0.61 sq mi)
Elevation
2 m (7 ft)
Population
 (May 2014)
 • Total 27,938
 • Density 273/km2 (710/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
Parts of 9000 range
Area code 0511, 0512

Achtkarspelen (Dutch pronunciation: [ɑxtˈkɑrspələ(n)]) is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Northern Netherlands. In 2021, it had a population of 27,900.

History

The name Achtkarspelen, literally meaning "eight parishes", is derived from the original eight parishes within the grietenij, namely: Augustinusga, Buitenpost (the capital), Drogeham, De Kooten, Kortwoude, Lutkepost, Surhuizum and Twijzel. Achtkarspelen held a separate status within Friesland for many years. In the Middle Ages Achtkarspelen fell under the Bishopric of Münster, meanwhile the rest of Friesland was a part of the Bishopric of Utrecht.

The grietenij Achtkarspelen became a municipality in 1851 as a result of the Municipality Act of Minister of the Interior Johan Rudolph Thorbecke.

Population centres

Gem-Achtkarspelen-OpenTopo
Topographic map of Achtkarspelen, June 2015

The administrative centre in the municipality is Buitenpost.

Dutch name West Frisian name Population
Augustinusga Stynsgea 1332
Boelenslaan Boelensloane 1145
Buitenpost Bûtenpost 5785
Drogeham Droegeham 1751
Gerkesklooster-Stroobos Gerkeskleaster-Strobos 1140
Harkema De Harkema 4235
Kootstertille Koatstertille 2595
Surhuisterveen Surhústerfean 5810
Surhuizum Surhuzem 1371
Twijzel Twizel 1093
Twijzelerheide Twizelerheide 1889

Notable people

  • Derk Holman (1916 in Buitenpost – 1982 in Groningen) a Dutch sculptor and ceramist
  • Louw de Graaf (born 1930 in Kootstertille) a retired Dutch politician and trade union leader.
  • Gerriet Postma (1932 in Twijzelerheide – 2009) a Dutch painter
  • Johannes Lützen Bouma (born 1934 in Twijzelerheide) a Dutch economist and academic
  • David Porcelijn (born 1947 in Achtkarspelen) a Dutch composer and conductor
  • Joop Atsma (born 1956 in Surhuisterveen) a Dutch politician and sport administrator.
  • Meindert Talma (born 1968 in Surhuisterveen) a Dutch lo-fi singer and keyboardist
  • Oedo Kuipers (born 1989 in Stroobos) a Dutch singer and actor in musical theatre

Gallery

  • Augustinusga Dwarsreed

    Augustinusga Dwarsreed

  • Boelenslaan Oranje gekte

    Boelenslaan Oranje gekte

  • Begin van de Kolk. Surhuisterveen

    Begin van de Kolk, Surhuisterveen

  • Stroobos - Hoendiep - Sikma - Barkmeijer (winter)

    The Hoendiep near Stroobos

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