Westergoa was one of the seven sealands and one of the three that now lie within the borders of today's Dutch province of
Friesland
Friesland (, ; official fry, Fryslân ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia, is a province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen, northwest of Drenthe and Overijssel, north of ...
. Later it was one of the three
goa
Goa () is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is located between the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the ...
en of Frisia. In the Middle Ages Westergoa most probably formed the political centre of the
Frisian realm.
Area
On the eastern side Westergoa was bordered by the
Middelsee, on the other side
Eastergoa. On the south side it bordered with what originally was
Bornegoa which was in the line with Terhernster Lake to the south of the coast, the eastern perimeter was with
Doedingwerstal. All other borders were coastlines.
1200
Around 1200, Westergoa was divided into parts within the Westergoa area
Franeker
Franeker (; fry, Frjentsjer) is one of the eleven historical cities of Friesland and capital of the municipality of Waadhoeke. It is located north of the Van Harinxmakanaal and about 20 km west of Leeuwarden. As of 1 January 2014, it had 12 ...
,
Wildinge and
Wymbrits, called the
Fiefdielen (Five parts). Franeker and Wildinge have probably been the original Westergo. Wymbrits was added when begin 12th century when
Sudergoa was no more.
1500
Around 1500
Het Bildt, was added to Westergoa but by the establishment of
Sânwâlden,
Gaasterland,
Doniawerstal and
Lemsterland these parts in the south of Westergoa were lost. Also eight cities grew exceptionally in the Westergoa area;
Harlingen and
Franeker
Franeker (; fry, Frjentsjer) is one of the eleven historical cities of Friesland and capital of the municipality of Waadhoeke. It is located north of the Van Harinxmakanaal and about 20 km west of Leeuwarden. As of 1 January 2014, it had 12 ...
in the Fiefdielen part,
Bolsward
Bolsward (, West Frisian: ''Boalsert'') is a city in Súdwest-Fryslân in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. Bolsward has a population of just under 10,200. It is located 10 km W.N.W. of Sneek.
History
The town is founded on thr ...
at the eastern side of Wildinge, now
Wûnseradiel
Wûnseradiel () is a former municipality in the Friesland province of the northern Netherlands, at the eastern end of the ''Afsluitdijk''. The official (legal) name of the municipality is in the West Frisian language, though it is known as Wonsera ...
and at the southern point
Workum
Workum () is a city located in the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân in Friesland, Netherlands. It received city rights in 1399 and is one of the eleven cities of Friesland. It had a population of 4,435 in January 2017.Hindeloopen
Hindeloopen (; fry, Hylpen; Hindeloopen Frisian: ''Hielpen'' ) is an old city on the North of the Netherlands on the IJsselmeer. It lies within the municipality of Súdwest Fryslân. It is famous because of the Hindeloopen art and hindeloopen ...
. The rest of Wymbrits fell into three cities and six parts.
Stavoren,
Sneek
Sneek (; fy, Snits) is a city southwest of Leeuwarden and the seat of the former municipality of Sneek in the province of Friesland, Netherlands. As of 2011 it is the seat of the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân (Southwest Friesland). T ...
and
IJlst had become autonomous cities but six
Frisian slots formed the
grietenijen of
Wymbritseradeel and
Hemelumer Oldeferd (and Noardwâlde).
{, cellspacing="0"
!colspan=2, Eight Cities:
, -
, Ha, ,
Harlingen
, -
, F, ,
Franeker
Franeker (; fry, Frjentsjer) is one of the eleven historical cities of Friesland and capital of the municipality of Waadhoeke. It is located north of the Van Harinxmakanaal and about 20 km west of Leeuwarden. As of 1 January 2014, it had 12 ...
, -
, B, ,
Bolsward
Bolsward (, West Frisian: ''Boalsert'') is a city in Súdwest-Fryslân in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. Bolsward has a population of just under 10,200. It is located 10 km W.N.W. of Sneek.
History
The town is founded on thr ...
, -
, Sn, ,
Sneek
Sneek (; fy, Snits) is a city southwest of Leeuwarden and the seat of the former municipality of Sneek in the province of Friesland, Netherlands. As of 2011 it is the seat of the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân (Southwest Friesland). T ...
, -
, Dr, ,
IJlst
, -
, W, ,
Workum
Workum () is a city located in the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân in Friesland, Netherlands. It received city rights in 1399 and is one of the eleven cities of Friesland. It had a population of 4,435 in January 2017.Hindeloopen
Hindeloopen (; fry, Hylpen; Hindeloopen Frisian: ''Hielpen'' ) is an old city on the North of the Netherlands on the IJsselmeer. It lies within the municipality of Súdwest Fryslân. It is famous because of the Hindeloopen art and hindeloopen ...
, -
, St, ,
Stavoren
Geography of Friesland
History of Friesland