Bartlehiem is a

hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

, located partially in

Noardeast-Fryslân Noardeast-Fryslân () is a municipality of Friesland in the northern Netherlands. It was established 1 January 2019 and consists of the former municipalities of Dongeradeel, Ferwerderadiel and Kollumerland en Nieuwkruisland, all three of which ...

, partially in

Tytsjerksteradiel Tytsjerksteradiel () is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. It is named after the town of Tytsjerk, whose name is derived from a person named Tiete. Tiete was a daughter of Tryn, after whom the region (Trynwâlden) is n ...

, and partially in

Leeuwarden Leeuwarden (; ; ; ) is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in Friesland, Netherlands, with a population of 127,073 (2023). It is the provincial capital and seat of the Provin ...

. It consists of about 40 houses.

History

In 1840, Bartlehiem was home to 40 people. Before 2018, the village was part of the

Leeuwarderadeel Leeuwarderadeel (; ) is a former municipality in the northern Netherlands. Its capital was Stiens. History On 1 January 2018 it merged with the municipality of Leeuwarden. Population centres * Bartlehiem * Britsum * Cornjum * Finkum * Hij ...

municipality and before 2019 part of the

Ferwerderadiel Ferwerderadiel () is a former Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality of Friesland in the northern Netherlands. Its official name is West Frisian language, West Frisian, the Dutch name is Ferwerderadeel (). In 2019 it merged with the munici ...

municipality.

Monastery

The village was first mentioned in 1232 as "in Bethlehem". It was named after the

Premonstratensian The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré (), also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines and, in Britain and Ireland, as the White Canons (from the colour of their habit), is a religious order of canons regular in the Catholic Chur ...

monastery Bethlehem, an outpost of , which was at the location between 1170 until 1580. The monastery was named after

Bethlehem Bethlehem is a city in the West Bank, Palestine, located about south of Jerusalem, and the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate. It had a population of people, as of . The city's economy is strongly linked to Tourism in the State of Palesti ...

, Palestina.

Elfstedentocht

Bartlehiem is especially well-known due to the

Elfstedentocht The ''Elfstedentocht'' (; West Frisian language, West Frisian: ''Alvestêdetocht'' , English language, English: ''Eleven cities tour'') is a long-distance tour skating event on natural ice, almost long, which is held both as a speed skating com ...

for ice skaters, who have to pass through the hamlet twice. Coming from the west from Feinsum through the Feinsumer Feart, a wide

ditch A ditch is a small to moderate trench created to channel water. A ditch can be used for drainage, to drain water from low-lying areas, alongside roadways or fields, or to channel water from a more distant source for plant irrigation. Ditches ...

. Skaters then pass the famous wooden bicycle and pedestrian bridge of Bartlehiem, after the bridge they skate north over the Dokkumer Ie to

Dokkum Dokkum is a Dutch fortified city in the municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân in the province of Friesland. It has 12,669 inhabitants (February 8, 2020). The fortifications of Dokkum are well preserved and are known as the ''bolwerken'' (bulwarks) ...

. On return they turn left to the east over the Aldtsjerkster Feart, a similar ditch. From here it is approx 10 km to the finish line on the Bonkefeart in

. Due to this, Bartlehiem is the only place where a spectator can see Elfstedentocht-participants from three directions.

Factory

In 1893 a

dairy A dairy is a place where milk is stored and where butter, cheese, and other dairy products are made, or a place where those products are sold. It may be a room, a building, or a larger establishment. In the United States, the word may also des ...

factory was built but it was closed in the 1950s. The building was converted to accommodation for people with dementia in 2010.

Gallery

File:Bartlehiem.nr1.jpg, Wooden bridge of Bartlehiem File:Bartlehiem.nr3.jpg, Former dairy factory File:Bij Bartlehiem, de Dokkumer Ee IMG 7741 2020-09-20 16.52.jpg, Dokkumer Ie through Bartlehiem

References

External links

Municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân
(Official website)
Municipality of Leeuwarden
(Official website)
Municipality of Tytsjerksteradiel
(Official website) {{Authority control Noardeast-Fryslân Leeuwarden Tytsjerksteradiel Populated places in Friesland