De Fryske Marren Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

De Fryske Marren

Municipality

Joure

Joure town hall

Sloten

Balk

Woudagemaal

Flag	Coat of arms

Location in Friesland

Country

Netherlands

Province

Friesland

Established

1 January 2014

Government

• Body

Municipal council

Area

• Total

data missing km² (Formatting error: invalid input when rounding sq mi)

• Land

361.83 km² (139.70 sq mi)

• Water

Expression error: Unrecognized word "data".Expression error: Unrecognized word "data".Expression error: Unrecognized word "data".Expression error: Unrecognized word "data".Expression error: Unrecognized word "data".Expression error: Unrecognized word "data".Expression error: Unrecognized word "data".Expression error: Unrecognized word "data".Expression error: Unrecognized word "data".Expression error: Unrecognized word "data".Expression error: Unrecognized word "data".Expression error: Unrecognized word "data".Expression error: Unrecognized word "data". km² (Formatting error: invalid input when rounding sq mi)

Elevation

2 m (7 ft)

Population

(May 2014)

• Total

data missing

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postcode

Parts of 8400 and 8500 range

Area code

0513, 0514

De Fryske Marren (which means The Frisian Lakes in West Frisian) is a municipality in the northern Netherlands. It is part of the Friesland province. This municipality was created on January 1, 2014. It was formed by joining several older municipalities: Gaasterlân-Sleat, Lemsterland, Skarsterlân, and parts of Boarnsterhim.

De Fryske Marren is known for its many lakes, which is where its name comes from. It has a population of about data missing people. The total area is about ^{[convert: invalid number]}, including both land and water.

How the Municipality Was Formed
- What's in a Name?
Towns and Villages
- Where is it?
Famous Faces
Images for kids
See also

How the Municipality Was Formed

In the Netherlands, it's common for smaller municipalities to join together. This helps them work better and serve their communities more effectively. Over the years, the number of municipalities has greatly reduced.

The areas that now make up De Fryske Marren were mostly rural. They also had a growing tourism industry, especially because of the beautiful lakes. In 2007, some of these older municipalities, like Gaasterlân-Sleat and Lemsterland, started thinking about merging. They believed that joining forces would bring many benefits.

By 2008, all three main municipal councils (Gaasterlân-Sleat, Lemsterland, and Skarsterlân) agreed to study the idea of a merger. After careful planning, the new municipality of De Fryske Marren was created. Some small parts of other areas, like Terherne from Boarnsterhim, also joined the new municipality.

The plan for this new municipality was approved by the Dutch government in June 2013. It officially started on January 1, 2014.

What's in a Name?

When the municipality was first created, its official name was De Friese Meren. This is the Dutch translation for "The Frisian Lakes." The name was chosen because of the many lakes found in this beautiful area.

However, municipalities in the Netherlands can change their names. On July 1, 2015, the municipality officially changed its name to De Fryske Marren. This is the West Frisian translation of "The Frisian Lakes." This change reflects the local language and culture of the region.

Towns and Villages

De Fryske Marren is made up of 51 different towns and villages. The main town, where the government offices are located, is Joure.

Here are some of the towns and villages you can find in De Fryske Marren:

Akmarijp
Bakhuizen
Balk
Bantega
Boornzwaag
Broek
Delfstrahuizen
Dijken
Doniaga
Echten
Echtenerbrug
Eesterga
Elahuizen
Follega
Goingarijp
Harich
Haskerhorne
Idskenhuizen
Joure
Kolderwolde
Langweer
Legemeer
Lemmer
Mirns
Nijehaske
Nijemirdum
Oldeouwer
Oosterzee
Oudega
Oudehaske
Oudemirdum
Ouwster-Nijega
Ouwsterhaule
Rijs
Rohel
Rotstergaast
Rotsterhaule
Rottum
Ruigahuizen
Scharsterbrug
Sint Nicolaasga
Sintjohannesga
Sloten
Snikzwaag
Sondel
Terherne
Terkaple
Teroele
Tjerkgaast
Vegelinsoord
Wijckel

Where is it?

Dutch topographic map of the municipality of De Fryske Marren, June 2015

This map shows you where De Fryske Marren is located. You can see how the different towns and villages are spread out across the area.

Famous Faces

Many interesting people have come from De Fryske Marren and the areas that now form it.

Creative Minds

Jancko Douwama (1492 in Oldeboorn - 1533) was a Frisian nobleman who fought for Friesland's freedom.
Martinus Hamconius (around 1550 in Follega – 1620) was a Frisian writer, poet, and historian.
The three Brothers Halbertsma (around 1780 in Grou – around 1860) helped develop written literature in the Western Frisian language.
Herman van Ham (1931 in Nijehaske – 2012) was a famous Dutch head chef.
Pieter Verhoeff (1938 in Lemmer – 2019) was a Dutch film director.
Marjan Jonkman (born 1994 in Sint Nicolaasga) is a Dutch fashion model.

Leaders and Thinkers

Johannes Acronius Frisius (1520 in Akkrum – 1564) was a Dutch doctor and mathematician who also wrote poetry.
Henricus Aeneae (1743 in Oudemirdum – 1810) was a Dutch scientist.
Hendrik van Rijgersma (born 1835 in Lemmer - 1877) was a naturalist, doctor, and expert on plants and shells.
Martijn Theodoor Houtsma (1851 in Irnsum – 1943) was an expert on Middle Eastern history.
Fedde Schurer (1898 in Drachten – 1968) was a Dutch teacher, journalist, and politician who supported the West Frisian language.
Heije Schaper (1906 in Joure – 1996) was a highly respected Dutch naval and air force officer.
Jan Pen (1921 in Lemmer – 2010) was a Dutch economist and writer.
Frans Haarsma (1921 in Balk - 2009) was a Roman Catholic priest.
Ahmed Dede (born 1960 in Balk) is an Islamic sheikh.
Auke Zijlstra (born 1964 in Joure) is a Dutch politician and a member of the European Parliament.

Sports Stars

Roelof Klein (1877 in Lemmer – 1960) was a Dutch rower who won a bronze medal at the 1900 Summer Olympics.
Jetze Doorman (1881 in Balk – 1931) was a fencer and pentathlete who competed at the 1912 Summer Olympics.
Atje Keulen-Deelstra (1938 in Grou – 2013) was a speed skater who won silver and bronze medals at the 1972 Winter Olympics.
Sjoukje Dijkstra (born 1942 in Akkrum) is a former figure skater. She won a gold medal at the 1964 Olympics and a silver medal in 1960.
Tiemen Groen (born 1946 in Follega) is a retired Dutch cyclist who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Rintje Ritsma (born 1970 in Lemmer) is a former Dutch long track speed skater. He won six Olympic medals (two silver, four bronze) in five Winter Olympics.
Ids Postma (born 1973 in Dearsum) is a former speed skater who won a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Jorrit Bergsma (born 1986 in Oldeboorn) is a speed skater and marathon skater. He won a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Epke Zonderland (born 1986 in Lemmer) is a gymnast who won a gold medal on the high bar at the 2012 Olympics.
Marit Bouwmeester (born 1988 in Warten) is a sailor. She won a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Sjinkie Knegt (born 1989 in Bantega) is a Dutch short track speed skater. He won a bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics and a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics.