Súdwest-Fryslân facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Southwest Friesland Súdwest-Fryslân  (West Frisian)
Municipality
Sneek Bolsward Workum IJlst Hindeloopen Woudsend
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Friesland
Country	Netherlands
Province	Friesland
Established	1 January 2011
Government
• Body	Municipal council
Area
• Total	841.56 km2 (324.93 sq mi)
• Land	459.64 km2 (177.47 sq mi)
• Water	381.92 km2 (147.46 sq mi)
Elevation	2 m (7 ft)
Population  (May 2014)
• Total	84,356
• Density	184/km2 (480/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postcode	Parts of 8000 range
Area code	0514, 0515, 0517

Southwest Friesland (called Súdwest-Fryslân in Frisian) is a special type of local government area called a municipality. It is located in the northern part of the Netherlands, in the province of Friesland.

As of January 2021, about 90,000 people lived here. The main town and government center is Sneek. Southwest Friesland is the largest municipality in the Netherlands when you look at its total area, which is about 841.56 square kilometers.

History of Southwest Friesland

Southwest Friesland was created in 2011. It was formed by joining five older municipalities: Bolsward, Nijefurd, Sneek, Wûnseradiel, and Wymbritseradiel.

Later, in 2014, some parts of the former municipality of Boarnsterhim were added. Then, on January 1, 2018, more areas from the former municipality of Littenseradiel joined Southwest Friesland. This made the municipality even larger.

Geography of Southwest Friesland

Topographic map of Súdwest-Fryslân, 2018

The municipality of Southwest Friesland is made up of many different places where people live. These places are divided into towns and smaller villages.

Major Towns in the Region

Southwest Friesland is home to several important towns. These include Bolsward, Hindeloopen, IJlst, Sneek, Stavoren, and Workum. Each of these towns has its own unique history and character.

Villages in Southwest Friesland

There are many villages spread across Southwest Friesland. Some of these villages are Abbegea, Allingawier, Arum, Blauwhuis, Bozum, Breezanddijk, Britswerd, Burgwerd, Cornwerd, Dedgum, Easterein, Edens, Exmorra, Ferwoude, Folsgare, Gaast, Gaastmeer, Gauw, Goënga, Greonterp, Hartwerd, Heeg, Hemelum, Hennaard, Hichtum, Hidaard, Hieslum, Hommerts, Idsegahuizum, Idzega, Indijk, It Heidenskip, Itens, Jutrijp, Kimswerd, Kornwerderzand, Koudum, Koufurderrige, Kubaard, Laaxum, Loënga, Lollum, Longerhouw, Lutkewierum, Makkum, Molkwerum, Nijhuizum, Nijland, Offingawier, Oosterend, Oosterwierum, Oosthem, Oppenhuizen, Oudega, Parrega, Piaam, Pingjum, Poppenwier, Raerd, Rien, Roodhuis, Sandfirden, Scharl, Scharnegoutum, Schettens, Schraard, Sibrandabuorren, Smallebrugge, Tirns, Tjalhuizum, Tjerkwerd, Uitwellingerga, Waaxens, Warns, Westhem, Wieuwerd, Witmarsum, Wolsum, Wommels, Wons, Woudsend, Ypecolsga, Ysbrechtum and Zurich.

Small Hamlets in the Area

Besides towns and villages, Southwest Friesland also has many smaller settlements known as hamlets. Some of these include Aaksens, Abbegaasterketting, Abbegaasterrige, Andelahuizen, Angterp, Annabuorren, Arkum, Atzeburen, Baarderbuorren, Baburen, Barnsterbuorren, Barsum, Bessens, Bittens, Bloemkamp, Bonjeterp, Bootland, Bovenburen, De Band, De Bieren, De Blokken, De Burd, De Hel, De Grits, De Kat, De Kliuw, De Nes, De Pôle, De Weeren, De Wieren, Dijksterburen, Doniaburen, Doniawier, Draaisterhuzen, Easthim, Eemswoude, Engwier, Exmorrazijl, Feytebuorren, Fiifhûs, Fiskersbuorren, Flansum, Galamadammen, Goëngamieden, Gooium, Grauwe Kat, Greate Wierrum, Grote Wiske, Harkezijl, Hayum, Hemert, Hiddum, Hidaardersyl, Hoekens, Hornsterburen, Houw, Idserdaburen, Ingwert, It Fliet, Jeth, Jonkershuizen, Jousterp, Jouswerd, Kampen, Klaeiterp, Kleine Wiske, Knossens, Kooihuizen, Koudehuizum, Kromwâl, Laad en Zaad, Lippenwâlde, Littenserbuorren, Lytse Gaastmar, Lytshuzen, Makkum, Boazum, Meilahuzen, Monsamabuorren, Nijbuorren, Nijekleaster, Nijezijl, Osingahuizen, Ottenburen, Pikesyl, Rea Skuorre, Remswerd, Rytseterp, Sandfirderrijp, Scharneburen, Sieswerd, Sjungadijk, Skrok, Sotterum, Spears, Spreeuwenstein, Spyk, Strand, Swaenwert, Swarte Beien, Trijehuzen, Tsjerkebuorren, Vierhuizen, Viersprong, Wolsumerketting, Wonneburen and Yndyk.

Famous People from Southwest Friesland

Menno Simons, 1610

Jacob Binckes

Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy, 1941

Many interesting and important people have come from Southwest Friesland. Here are a few:

• Pier Gerlofs Donia (around 1480–1520) was a Frisian rebel leader and pirate from Kimswerd.
• Menno Simons (1496–1561) was a religious leader from Witmarsum. His followers became known as the Mennonites.
• Brothers Boetius à Bolswert (around 1585–1633) and Schelte a Bolswert (1586–1659) were skilled engravers who made art using copper plates. They were from Bolsward.
• Gysbert Japiks (1603–1666) was a West Frisian writer, poet, and schoolmaster from Bolsward.
• Allart Pieter van Jongestall (1612–1676) was a Dutch lawyer and diplomat from Stavoren.
• Jacob Potma (around 1630–1704) was a painter during the Dutch Golden Age from Workum.
• Jacob Binckes (1637–1677) was a Dutch naval officer (commodore) from Koudum.
• Lambert Bos (1670–1717) was a Dutch scholar and critic from Workum.
• Eelco Alta (1723–1798) was a Frisian clergyman, theologian, and veterinarian from Makkum.
• Cynthia Lenige (1755–1780) was a Frisian poet from Makkum.
• Douwe de Hoop (1800–1830) was a Dutch painter and draftsman from Workum.
• Sergeant James H. Burbank (1838–1911) was a soldier from Stavoren who received the US Medal of Honor.
• Hobbe Smith (1862–1942) was a Dutch painter known for his Post-Impressionist style. He was from Witmarsum.
• B.D. Dykstra (1871–1955) was a Dutch American pastor, educator, and poet from Pingjum.
• Willem de Sitter (1872–1934) was a Dutch mathematician, physicist, and astronomer from Sneek.
• Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (1885–1961) was a Dutch politician who served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands during World War II (1940–1945). He was from Goënga.
• Hilbrand Boschma (1893–1976) was a Dutch zoologist and director of the Rijksmuseum of Natural History. He was from Ysbrechtum.
• Hans Wiegel (born 1941) is a retired Dutch politician and businessman who lives in Oudega.
• Klaas Rusticus (born 1942) is a Dutch author and TV and film director from Sneek.
• Hillie Molenaar (born 1945) is a Dutch documentary film director from Sneek.
• Jan de Haan (born 1951) is a modern Dutch composer, conductor, and musician from Warns.
• Liuwe Tamminga (1953–2021) was a Dutch organist and harpsichordist from Hemelum. He was known for playing Italian Early Music.
• Pauline Krikke (born 1961) is a Dutch politician who served as Mayor of The Hague. She is from Sneek.

Sports Figures from Southwest Friesland

Wout Zijlstra

Sherida Spitse, 2014

Southwest Friesland has also produced many talented athletes:

• Pim Mulier (1865–1954) helped introduce sports like tennis, athletics, cricket, and hockey to the Netherlands. He was from Witmarsum.
• Jan Ankerman (1906–1942) was a Dutch field hockey player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics. He was from Wommels.
• Wout Zijlstra (born 1964) is a former strongman and Highland Games athlete from Wolsum.
• Twin brothers Ben and Jan Kouwenhoven (born 1965) are sailors from Sneek who competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
• Ronald Zoodsma (born 1966) is a retired volleyball player from Sneek. He won a silver medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
• Brothers Gerhard (1967–2006) and Willem Potma (born 1969) were sailors from Sneek. They competed in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics.
• Pieter Huistra (born 1967) is a Dutch former football winger from Goënga, with many club appearances.
• Olof van der Meulen (born 1968) is a retired volleyball player from Sneek. He won silver and gold medals at the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics.
• Rick Hofstra (born 1977) is a Dutch professional darts player from Sneek.
• Sandor van der Heide (born 1978) is a football manager and former player from Ysbrechtum.
• Loes Geurts (born 1986) is a Dutch football goalkeeper from Wûnseradiel. She has played over 100 games for the Netherlands women's national football team.
• Sherida Spitse (born 1990) is a Dutch football midfielder from Sneek. She has played over 250 club games and 175 international games for the Netherlands women's national football team.
• Nyck de Vries (born 1995) is a Dutch Formula E racing driver from Sneek.
• Liesette Bruinsma (born 2000) is a Dutch Paralympic swimmer who lives in Wommels.

See also

In Spanish: Súdwest-Fryslân para niños