Burgum is the largest and administrative town of the

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

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 ...

, in the

Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...

province of

Friesland Friesland ( ; ; official ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia (), named after the Frisians, is a Provinces of the Netherlands, province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen (p ...

. It had a population of 10,058 inhabitants in January 2017. On 1 January 1989 the official name of the village was changed from ''Bergum'' to ''Burgum.'' This was done to match the Frisian name of the village. Bergum is the current name in Dutch. The name Burgum is suggestive of an area of higher altitude than the surrounding area. The province of Friesland is bordered in the north by the

Wadden Sea The Wadden Sea ( ; ; or ; ; ; ) is an intertidal zone in the southeastern part of the North Sea. It lies between the coast of northwestern continental Europe and the range of low-lying Frisian Islands, forming a shallow body of water with tida ...

. In ancient and medieval times, habitation in Friesland occurred only in those areas which were elevated above sea level (for example in Burgum) or on artificially built mounds known as terp, weird or ward. These mounds were areas of refuge in times of flooding. The artificial mounds became redundant after the building of the dykes on the border of the Wadden Sea. Habitation of this area goes back to the Stone Age. Main things to see in Burgum are the Town Hall and the ''Krústsjerke'' (Cross Church) which is the remainder of a convent burned in the

Eighty Years' War The Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt (; 1566/1568–1648) was an armed conflict in the Habsburg Netherlands between disparate groups of rebels and the Spanish Empire, Spanish government. The Origins of the Eighty Years' War, causes of the w ...

. Friesland is renowned for its many lakes and canals. One of these lakes is found nearby the village of Burgum and it is called the

Burgumer Mar The Burgumer Mar () is a lake near the town of Burgum in the Dutch province of Friesland. The lake was formed during the last ice age. It is a popular water sports area with multiple yacht harbours. The Prinses Margriet Canal splits the lake int ...

. Another object of interest is the so-called Poppestien. A large stone deposited in this area during the last ice age (11,000 BC). In ancient times this stone was used in fertility rituals.

Notable buildings

* Protestant church of Burgum * The Municipality center of Tytsjerksteradiel

Notable people associated with Burgum

* Hendrik Bulthuis - Amateur boat builder and designer of the Bergumermeer-class sailing-boat (“B.M.-er”) * Tsjibbe Gearts van der Meulen - Frisian writer and poet * Joke van Rijssel, long track speed skater * Rombertus van Uylenburgh - One of the founders of the

University of Franeker The University of Franeker (1585–1811) was a university in Franeker, Friesland, the Netherlands. It was the second-oldest university of the Netherlands, founded shortly after Leiden University. History Also known as ''Academia Franekerensis'' ...

References

{{Authority control Populated places in Friesland Tytsjerksteradiel