Grou () is a town in the province

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 ...

of the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

and had around 5655 citizens in January 2017. Since 2014 Grou is part of the municipality of

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 ...

. The town is located on the lake and the Prinses Margriet Canal.

Heineken Heineken Lager Beer (), or simply Heineken (), is a Dutch pale lager beer with 5% alcohol by volume produced by the Dutch brewing company Heineken N.V. Heineken beer is sold in a green bottle with a red star. History On 15 February 1864, ...

operated a distribution centre for Friesland in Grou for 25 years until 2004. It used to be the capital of the municipality of before the reorganization of municipalities in 1984, and capital of the municipality of

Boarnsterhim Boarnsterhim (; ) was a municipality in the northern Netherlands. On 1 January 2014, the municipality was dissolved and its territory was split between four other municipalities: De Friese Meren, which was established that day, Leeuwarden, Heeren ...

until 2014. While the rest of the Netherlands celebrates

Sinterklaas Sinterklaas () or Sint-Nicolaas () is a legendary figure based on Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children. Other Dutch names for the figure include ''De Sint'' ("The Saint"), ''De Goede Sint'' ("The Good Saint") and ''De Goedheiligman'' (derive ...

(Saint Nicholas) on December 5, Grou instead celebrates a unique local variation of this children's holiday known as on February 21. In local lore Sint Piter is a distinct character separate from Saint Nicholas, and was historically known as the patron saint for local fishermen. A nickname for the town is Tsiisferdûnsers, meaning cheese dancers, from a story where a fiddler was paid with cheese at a village dance.

Transport

The town is located at an exit on the A32 motorway. There is a ferry across the canal called Veerpont de Burd that connects the de Burd island. The Grou-Jirnsum railway station is on the Staatslijn A (

Arnhem Arnhem ( ; ; Central Dutch dialects, Ernems: ''Èrnem'') is a Cities of the Netherlands, city and List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands, near the German border. It is the capita ...

) line.

Population

Notable births

* (ca. 1542-1618), clergyman * Brothers Halbertsma ** Eeltsje Hiddes Halbertsma (1797-1858), physician, poet and writer ** Joast Hiddes Halbertsma (1789-1869), Mennonite minister, writer and poet ** Tsjalling Hiddes Halbertsma (1792–1852), merchant and poet *

Atje Keulen-Deelstra Atje Keulen-Deelstra (31 December 1938 – 22 February 2013) was a Dutch speed skater, who was a four-time World Allround Champion between the age of 32 and 36.Haitske Pijlman (born 1954), speed skater

Sport

An artificial ice rink ( Glice) invented by Eric Sinnema was opened for public use in 2007.

Gallery

File:Grou1.jpg, Houses near the harbour with St. Peter's church in the background File:Grouw - Haven.jpg, Grou harbour File:Oud schilderij Grou.jpg, New quai 1850

Notable buildings

* St. Peter's church * Three restored windmills survive in Grou, ''De Bird'', ''De Borgmolen'' and ''De Haensmolen''.

References

External links

*
Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia entry for Grouwde Grouster - local news
{{Authority control Leeuwarden Populated places in Friesland