Bolsward facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bolsward
Boalsert
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City and former municipality
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City Hall
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 Bolsward
Location in Friesland
Bolsward
Location in Netherlands
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| Country | Netherlands | ||
| Province | Friesland | ||
| Municipality | Súdwest-Fryslân | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 9.42 km2 (3.64 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 0.5 m (1.6 ft) | ||
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 10,085 | ||
| • Density | 1,070.6/km2 (2,772.8/sq mi) | ||
| Postal code |
8700-8702
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| Dialing code | 0515 | ||
Bolsward (which is Boalsert in West Frisian) is a city in the Netherlands. It's located in the Friesland province, within the Súdwest-Fryslân area. About 10,200 people live in Bolsward. It's about 10 kilometers (6 miles) northwest of Sneek.
Contents
History of Bolsward
Bolsward was built on three special hills called artificial dwelling mounds. The first of these hills was made even before the time of Christ.
During the Middle Ages, Bolsward was a busy place for trade. It was a port city connected to the North Sea. This connection was through a waterway called the Middle Sea. Later, this connection was lost when the Middle Sea became farmland. So, a new canal was dug to connect the city to the Zuiderzee. The city of Bolsward was first mentioned in the year AD 725.
Bolsward became an important trading city. It was given special "city rights" by Philip the Good in 1455. This meant it had more freedom to govern itself. In 1422, Bolsward also joined the Hanseatic league. This was a powerful group of trading cities in northern Europe. Before 2011, Bolsward was its own independent municipality (a type of local government area). Then it became part of the larger Súdwest-Fryslân municipality.
Famous People from Bolsward
Many notable people were born in Bolsward, including:
- Juw Juwinga or Jonghema (14th century), a leader in Friesland
- Petrus Thaborita (1450–1527), a historian
- Boetius Adamsz Bolswert (c.1580-1633), an engraver
- Schelderic Adamsz Bolswert (c.1586-1659), an engraver
- Gysbert Japiks (1603–1666), a famous poet
- Frederick Philipse (1626–1702), an important founder in America
- Willem Muurling (1805–1882), a theologian
- Titus Brandsma (1881–1942), a Carmelite philosopher
Fun Events in Bolsward
Bolsward hosts several exciting events throughout the year.
Heamiel Festival
The Heamiel is a four-day festival held in June. It's a very old tradition that celebrates when farmers finished harvesting hay from their fields. The name "Heamiel" means 'Hay meal' in Frisian. It comes from the big traditional feast that used to be held.
Bolletongersdei
Bolletongersdei means 'bulls Thursday' in Frisian. This event includes a lively street market. Bolletongersdei takes place on the first Thursday of October each year.
Simmerwike
Simmerwike is a festival that lasts for four evenings in August. It features many different musical performances.
The Elfstedentocht
Bolsward is one of the eleven cities in Friesland that are part of the famous Elfstedentocht. This is a very long ice skating marathon. It doesn't happen every year because it needs the ice to be thick enough. So, it's quite rare!
Bolsward is also the starting point for the yearly Eleven Cities Cycling Tour. This is a long road bicycle racing tour.
Famous Buildings in Bolsward
Bolsward has some interesting historical buildings to see:
- The Protestant church of Bolsward is a notable religious building.
- The Gysbert Japicx House is where the famous poet Gysbert Japiks was born. It is now a museum about his life.
- The Broerekerk was a church that burned down in 1980. It was later repurposed in 2006.
See also
In Spanish: Bolsward para niños
