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 goaen 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

in the Fiefdielen part, Bolsward 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 and

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 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, ,

, - , B, , Bolsward , - , Sn, , Sneek , - , Dr, , IJlst , - , W, , Workum , - , Hy, ,

, - , St, , Stavoren Geography of Friesland History of Friesland