Holwert is a village 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 ...

municipality in the northern

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 ...

, in the 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 around 1,607 in January 2017. Before 2019, the village was part of the

Dongeradeel Dongeradeel (; ) is a former municipality in the northern Netherlands. In 2019 it merged with the municipalities of Ferwerderadiel and Kollumerland en Nieuwkruisland to form the new municipality Noardeast-Fryslân. History Dongeradeel was cr ...

municipality. The ferry to the island of

Ameland Ameland (; ) is a municipality and one of the West Frisian Islands off the north coast of the Netherlands. It consists mostly of sand dunes and is the third major island of the West Frisians. It neighbours islands Terschelling to the west a ...

departs from Holwert. Wadloopcentrum Fryslân in Holwert is a centre for the training of

wadlopen Mudflat hiking (, , West Frisian language, West Frisian: ''Waadrinnen'', ) is a recreation enjoyed in the Netherlands, northwest Germany, Denmark, England and France. Mudflat hikers are people who, with the aid of a tide table, use a period of Tid ...

guides and the preservation of the sport. There are two windmills in Holwert, ''De Hoop'' and ''Miedenmolen''.

History

The village was first mentioned in early-11th century as Holeuurt, and means "hollow ''

terp A ''terp'', also known as a ''wierde, woerd, warf, warft, werf, werve, wurt'' or ''værft'', is an artificial dwelling mound found on the North European Plain that has been created to provide safe ground during storm surges, high tides and ...

''". Holwert developed as a ''terp'' (artificial living mound) village several centuries

before Christ The terms (AD) and before Christ (BC) are used when designating years in the Gregorian calendar, Gregorian and Julian calendar, Julian calendars. The term is Medieval Latin and means "in the year of the Lord" but is often presented using "o ...

in a radial shape. The original ''terp'' was designated for the church, and in the 8th or 9th century, a long stretched out ''terp'' was created for trade and residential houses. In the 11th or 12th century, a dike was built along 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 ...

coast, however Holwert remained outside the dike until 1580. The tower of the Dutch Reformed church dates from the 13th century. The spire has probably been added in 1661. In 1776, the old church was demolished, and an L-shaped church was built in its place. In 1840, Holwert was home to 1,741 people. In 1872, a dam was privately constructed from Holwert to the island of

across the Wadden Sea, and on 9 June, it was possible to walk to Ameland. The dam required a lot of maintenance. In October 1881, a storm created a hole in the dike, and two more holes were created in April 1882. In 1888, an investment of ƒ 1.2 million was needed to strengthen and repair the dam, and a loan was asked from the government, however the

Dutch parliament The States General of the Netherlands ( ) is the supreme bicameral legislature of the Netherlands consisting of the Senate () and the House of Representatives (). Both chambers meet at the Binnenhof in The Hague. The States General originated in ...

voted against the proposal. A part of the dam still exists. The ferry to Ameland leaves on the end of the remaining dam. Holwert is one of the starting points for ''wadlopen'' (

mudflat hiking Mudflat hiking (, , West Frisian: ''Waadrinnen'', ) is a recreation enjoyed in the Netherlands, northwest Germany, Denmark, England and France. Mudflat hikers are people who, with the aid of a tide table, use a period of low water to walk and wad ...

). At

low tide Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon (and to a much lesser extent, the Sun) and are also caused by the Earth and Moon orbiting one another. Tide tables c ...

, it is possible to walk to the island of

. Mudflat hiking is potentially dangerous, and is only allowed under the supervision of a licensed guide. The village's official name was changed from Holwerd to Holwert in 2023.

Transportation

Holwert had a station on the

North Friesland Railway The Noord-Friesche Locaalspoorweg-Maatschappij (North Friesland Railway) was a railway serving the sparsely populated province of Friesland in northern Netherlands. Operated by the North Friesland Local Railway Company (Dutch: ''Noord-Friesche Loc ...

, which opened in 1901 and closed to passengers in 1940. The ferry to

departs from Holwert on the end of the dam.

Notable people

* Hans Willem van Aylva ( 1633–1691, admiral * Theo Hiddema (born 1944), lawyer and politician *

Johannes Phocylides Holwarda Johannes Phocylides Holwarda (''Jan Fokkesz, Jan Fokker, Johann Holwarda, Johannes Fokkes Holwarda, Jan Fokkens Holwarda, Jan Fokkes van haylen'') (February 19, 1618—January 22, 1651) was a Frisian astronomer, physician, and philosopher. He w ...

(1618–1651), astronomer, physician, and philosopher *

Albertina Soepboer Albertina Soepboer (born December 3, 1969) is a Dutch writer writing in both Frisian and Dutch. She was born in Holwerd and studied Romance languages and cultures and then Frisian literature in Groningen Groningen ( , ; ; or ) is the ca ...

(born 1969), writer

Gallery

Image:Kwelder.jpg,

Wadlopen Mudflat hiking (, , West Frisian language, West Frisian: ''Waadrinnen'', ) is a recreation enjoyed in the Netherlands, northwest Germany, Denmark, England and France. Mudflat hikers are people who, with the aid of a tide table, use a period of Tid ...

Image:MS Monnik.jpg, Ferry File:De Hoop molen Holwerd 01.jpg, ''De Hoop'' File:Holwert, Hegebuorren.jpg, Street view

References

External links