Which is very nice if the owners don't mind. Wireless Points: Leeuwarden20040827.gif (GIF Image, 3000x3000 pixels)
There is also a Wireless Leeuwarden site. It's a good start. But much still needs to be done. I also see that Meditterane Cafe De Salon is a major sponsor. Very cool and I've eaten there once (wine, calamari, italian mozzarella-tomato-pesto roll and expresso) and it was really very good.
I suppose we are out of hibernation for the moment. I have nothing new to add for this week, but coming soon another book review. This time I will be reviewing the Capitool guide of Friesland and pointing out a number of maps of Friesland you can buy.
Also you might not know but I'm a walking encyclopedia of useless information. I am collecting tidbits on Friesland which I will be publishing here.
This is one of the squares in Franeker, a town in Friesland.
Tags: Franeker | Friesland | The Netherlands | Holland
Tags: Franeker | Friesland | The Netherlands | Holland
Wow, within days of my planned hibernation, I get a chance to take a few hours of work. I still have a few hours daylight left, so I decide to head off to Franeker. Franeker is weird. Before I arrive I have heard one person (a Dutch, non-fresian) saying it's really nice. But I hear no fresians (except my auctioneer) saying that the place is cool. I check my 419x Friesland book and see a few interesting things. Lots of 16th– 17th century buildings. It's a town that did well (past tense?). The reason I ask is mainly because it was the second university town in the Netherlands after Leiden. Now though there is no university. How did that happen? I find that weird.
Anyway off I went to Franeker. It did not go well but as I will tell later on there might be a reasonable excuse for that. The town is nice enough and is picturesque. But I had an odd look of ‘what are you doing here ’, it must be the long hair. I also did not see or hear anything cheerful. But I did learn today that a kaats legend had been buried the previous day and the ceremony began in Franeker I think. I am talking about Hotze Schuil who was a great kaatser. Anyway I left again within the hour and headed for Harlingen
Harlingen is a port town on the coast of Friesland. It has a ferry terminal to Terschelling and Vlieland (two wadden islands) not far from the coast. I've been in Harlingen once before a few weeks ago. But it was dark then and I could't see much. I like Harlingen, and I spoke with one or two locals and they seem very friendly. Harlingen is also 16th– 17th century. Harlingen seems more exciting and there was more activity in the shops. One street I have seen which I think is a very cool place to live is the zoutsloot (salt canal). It has lots of old houses which have been done up really well. Also Harlingen seems to have its fair share of shops, bars and restaurants. And then to top it all, there are lots of old small sailing ships. You can see the masts sticking up over the roofs. Very cute indeed.
Tags: Franeker | Harlingen | Friesland | The Netherlands | Holland
Winter is setting in.
When I leave work, it's already dark. I'm not in Friesland yet in the weekends. So this blog will slumber for a while. Either spring or moving up here will kickstart this blog again.
I came across an amazing book in Dutch "419x Friesland" by Peter Karstkarel (ISBN 90 330 1191 3 Fries Pers Boekerij, Leeuwarden). It's in Dutch but it has photos of nearly every city, town and village in Friesland. It is stacked with history and some photos of each place. If you like this kind of thing this book should earn near pride of place in your book collection. It is a great way to see the place without actually going anywhere. Well it will help you see some places that you will really want to visit.
I've been reading up on Harlingen, Franekar, Dokkum, Lemmer and a town I have not previously mentioned Joure. They look very interesting.
Then there is Mantgum a large village on the Leeuwarden to Sneek railway line. We have been looking at houses via Internet and came across this area but not this village. But from the book this looks like a possible good place to live. I'll check it out.
This book though is full of gems like Molkwerum (which is a rural maze, but looked fantastic when we drove through). There is a village called It Heidensekip (would mean Pagan Chicken? in Dutch, but in Friesian?) and then there are the standard jokes about Sexbierum.
Highly recommended. I can hardly put this book down.
Date bought: 22 October 2005
Book Title: 419x Friesland
Book Author: Peter Karstkarel
ISBN: 90 330 1191 3
Published by: Fries Pers Boekerij, Leeuwarden, NL.
Ok what's your favourite Fresian:
This is not a competition. It's just about peoples opinions
From my own mini opinion poll I think people like Sneek and Harlingen the most, though I know of some people who love Lemmer and Dokkum as well. Wadden Islands: I've only ever been to Terschelling once, about 15 years ago so I have no valid opinion. I have heard that Ameland and Vlieland are favourites here.
Reactions in english please, if that's difficult just mention the towns, villages and/ or islands that you like and leave it at that, thanks.
Yeah they have a leaning tower up here as well. Though it's location is not being very well looked after by the city planners.
The Scheve toren (leaning tower) was built in the early 1530s, but never finished, because it went lobsided very quickly.
I moved up to Leeuwarden this week. First impressions have been very good, nice town and nice people. I am going to continue being a tourist for the next few weeks before settling in. That way I get to know the sights and history fairly quickly. I think most people even in holland haven't a clue what it's like up here, and neither did I until this week.
This is the Achmea Tower in Leeuwaarden. I rekon 99.9% of the population hate the thing. I won't be joining the bandwagon though. I have a weakness for modern architecture, even if this is not up there with Bilbaos Guggenheim museum. The building though doesn't have a nickname, and it really does need one even if it were offensive.
Other thoughts about Leeuwaarden (just first impressions). I am amused by how busy the locals think the place is. Compared to North or South Holland it's easy going. I have not though seen the town at night yet which should be interesting.
Leeuwarden has alot of 16th and 17th century buildings in good condition still standing in the city center. I also discovered that it has alot of canals. It's abit like a mini Utrecht or Amsterdam. The Friesans have a reputation for being distant. I can only say I have noticed only the opposite. For example, I walked into a major supermarket one morning and everyone said good morning to me and were very friendly.
On monday morning I was waiting for the bus at Goutum on the outskirts of Leeuwarden and this was my view, and it's a completely unfiltered shot. Besides the sheep, you might notice a heron wandering about as well.
No offence here intended, but I have a feeling these may not all be cities. I saw IJlst on the map yesterday and it was positively "village-like". I'm sure though that that is not the point. Anyway here is the new map. My next one will include the local rail network... and maybe even a photo or two. That will all happen next week.
This map shows the main roads, cities and towns of Friesland. I can tell you nothing really about any of them. But that will change as I am planning on doing a write up and a visit about Leeuwarden, Sneek, Heereveen, Drachten, Dokkum, Franeker and Harlingen.
For the moment I only know this much.
I didn't mention Lemmer even though it is on the map. I promise nothing, so I might do a write up of Lemmer yet. But really I know nothing about the place, except that I suspect that one or two Friesian skating legends may have come from there.
In two weeks time, I'll be moving to Friesland, which is a province in the Netherlands. They speak their own language up their as well as dutch (which I can speak myself). I'll be doing two things with this blog.
I have found very little about the place on Internet, but some people get very excited when I say I'm moving there, while others think I must be mad. I'm going to assume that the first lot know something the rest of us don't know and thats what I want to publish here. Like why would you want to move up here or even holiday here?
The reason I am moving is because of a new job. Friesland is a bit of the beaten track, but I'm actually really looking forward to this job. It's for a company I've been watching for about three years. I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and get stuck in.
