Southwest Friesland ( ) is a

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' ...

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 ...

, located in the

province A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

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 89,999 in January 2021.

Sneek Sneek (; ) is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city southwest of Leeuwarden and the seat of the former municipality of Sneek in the province of Friesland, Netherlands. As of 2011 it is the seat of the municipality of Súdw ...

is the municipal seat. With a total area of 841.56 km², Southwest-Friesland is the largest municipality by area in the Netherlands.

History

Southwest-Friesland was formed in 2011 from the old municipalities of Bolsward, Nijefurd,

, Wûnseradiel and Wymbritseradiel. In 2014 it was enlarged by parts of the former municipality of Boarnsterhim. On 1 January 2018 it was enlarged by parts of former municipality of Littenseradiel.

Geography

The municipality is formed by several settlements, divided into towns and villages.

Towns

The towns located in Southwest-Friesland are Bolsward, Hindeloopen,

IJlst IJlst (; ) is a city in Friesland, Netherlands. It is located about 3 km southwest of Sneek. It lies within the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân and had a population of approximately 3,140 in January 2017. History It received city right ...

, Stavoren and Workum.

Villages

The villages located in Southwest-Friesland are Abbegea, Allingawier, Arum, Blauwhuis, Bozum, Breezanddijk, Britswerd, Burgwerd, Cornwerd, Dedgum, Easterein, Edens, Exmorra, Ferwoude, Folsgare, Gaast, Gaastmeer, Gauw, Goënga, Greonterp, Hartwerd, Heeg, Hemelum, Hennaard, Hichtum, Hidaard, Hieslum, Hommerts, Idsegahuizum, Idzega, Indijk, It Heidenskip, Itens, Jutrijp, Kimswerd, Kornwerderzand, Koudum, Koufurderrige, Kubaard, Laaxum, Loënga, Lollum, Longerhouw, Lutkewierum, Makkum, Molkwerum, Nijhuizum, Nijland, Offingawier, Oosterend, Oosterwierum, Oosthem, Oppenhuizen, Oudega, Parrega, Piaam, Pingjum, Poppenwier, Raerd, Rien, Roodhuis, Sandfirden, Scharl, Scharnegoutum, Schettens, Schraard, Sibrandabuorren, Smallebrugge, Tirns, Tjalhuizum, Tjerkwerd, Uitwellingerga, Waaxens, Warns, Westhem, Wieuwerd, Witmarsum, Wolsum, Wommels, Wons, Woudsend, Ypecolsga, Ysbrechtum and

Zurich Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...

Hamlets

The hamlets located in Southwest-Friesland are Aaksens, Abbegaasterketting, Abbegaasterrige, Andelahuizen, Angterp, Annabuorren, Arkum, Atzeburen, Baarderbuorren, Baburen, Barnsterbuorren, Barsum, Bessens, Bittens, Bloemkamp, Bonjeterp, Bootland, Bovenburen, De Band, De Bieren, De Blokken, De Burd, De Hel, De Grits, De Kat, De Kliuw, De Nes, De Pôle, De Weeren, De Wieren, Dijksterburen, Doniaburen, Doniawier, Draaisterhuzen, Easthim, Eemswoude, Engwier, Exmorrazijl, Feytebuorren, Fiifhûs, Fiskersbuorren, Flansum, Galamadammen, Goëngamieden, Gooium, Grauwe Kat, Greate Wierrum, Grote Wiske, Harkezijl, Hayum, Hemert, Hiddum, Hidaardersyl, Hoekens, Hornsterburen, Houw, Idserdaburen, Ingwert, It Fliet, Jeth, Jonkershuizen, Jousterp, Jouswerd, Kampen, Klaeiterp, Kleine Wiske, Knossens, Kooihuizen, Koudehuizum, Kromwâl, Laad en Zaad, Lippenwâlde, Littenserbuorren, Lytse Gaastmar, Lytshuzen, Makkum, Boazum, Meilahuzen, Monsamabuorren, Nijbuorren, Nijekleaster, Nijezijl, Osingahuizen, Ottenburen, Pikesyl, Rea Skuorre, Remswerd, Rytseterp, Sandfirderrijp, Scharneburen, Sieswerd, Sjungadijk, Skrok, Sotterum, Spears, Spreeuwenstein, Spyk, Strand, Swaenwert, Swarte Beien, Trijehuzen, Tsjerkebuorren, Vierhuizen, Viersprong, Wolsumerketting, Wonneburen and Yndyk.

Politics

Jannewietske de Vries became

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...

of Southwest-Friesland in 2018. A member of the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA), she chairs the municipality's '' Board of Mayor and Aldermen''.

Notable people

* Pier Gerlofs Donia (ca.1480 in Kimswerd – 1520) a Frisian rebel leader and pirate *

Menno Simons Menno Simons (; ; 1496 – 31 January 1561) was a Roman Catholic priest from the Friesland region of the Low Countries who was excommunicated from the Catholic Church and became an influential Anabaptist religious leader. Simons was a contempor ...

(1496 in Witmarsum – 1561) a Roman Catholic priest, an influential Anabaptist religious leader, his followers became known as

Mennonites Mennonites are a group of Anabaptism, Anabaptist Christianity, Christian communities tracing their roots to the epoch of the Radical Reformation. The name ''Mennonites'' is derived from the cleric Menno Simons (1496–1561) of Friesland, part of ...

* brothers Boetius à Bolswert (ca.1585 in Bolsward – 1633) and

Schelte a Bolswert Schelte a Bolswert or Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert (c. 1586 – 1659) was a Frisian engraver who worked most of his career in Antwerp where he was one of the lead engravers in Rubens' workshop. He is known for his reproductive works after Peter Paul ...

(1586 in Bolsward – 1659) were copper-plate engravers * Gysbert Japiks (1603 in Bolsward – 1666) a West Frisian writer, poet, schoolmaster and cantor * Allart Pieter van Jongestall (1612 in Stavoren – 1676) a Dutch jurist and diplomat * Jacob Potma (ca.1630 in Workum – 1704) a

Dutch Golden Age The Dutch Golden Age ( ) was a period in the history of the Netherlands which roughly lasted from 1588, when the Dutch Republic was established, to 1672, when the '' Rampjaar'' occurred. During this period, Dutch trade, scientific development ...

painter * Jacob Binckes (1637 in Koudum – 1677) a Dutch commodore * Lambert Bos (1670 in Workum – 1717) a Dutch scholar and critic * Eelco Alta (1723 in Makkum – 1798) a Frisian clergyman, theologian and veterinarian * Cynthia Lenige (1755 in Makkum – 1780) a Frisian poet * Douwe de Hoop (1800 in Workum – 1830) a Dutch painter and draftsman * Sgnt James H. Burbank (1838 in Stavoren – 1911) a soldier, awarded the US

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

* Hobbe Smith (1862 in Witmarsum – 1942) a Dutch painter in the Post-Impressionist style * B.D. Dykstra (1871 in Pingjum – 1955) a Dutch American pastor, educator and poet * Willem de Sitter (1872 in Sneek – 1934) a Dutch mathematician, physicist and astronomer * Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (1885 in Goënga – 1961) a Dutch politician and Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1940 to 1945 * Hilbrand Boschma (1893 in Ysbrechtum – 1976) a Dutch zoologist and director of the Rijksmuseum of Natural History * Hans Wiegel (born 1941) a retired Dutch politician and businessman, lives in Oudega * Klaas Rusticus (born 1942 in Sneek) a Dutch author and TV and film director * Hillie Molenaar (born 1945 in Sneek) a Dutch documentary film director * Jan de Haan (born 1951 in Warns) a contemporary Dutch composer, conductor and musician * Liuwe Tamminga (1953 in Hemelum – 2021) a Dutch organist and harpsichordist, played Italian Early Music * Pauline Krikke (born 1961 in Sneek) a Dutch politician and Mayor of The Hague 2017/2019

Sport

* Pim Mulier (1865 in Witmarsum – 1954) introduced tennis, athletics, cricket and hockey to the Netherlands * Jan Ankerman (1906 in Wommels – 1942) a Dutch field hockey player who competed in the

1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the IX Olympiad (), was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from 28 July to 12 August 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The city of Amsterdam had previously bid for ...

* Wout Zijlstra (born 1964 in Wolsum) a former strongman and Highland Games athlete * twin brothers

Ben Ben is frequently used as a shortened version of the given names Benjamin, Benedict, Bennett, Benson or Ebenezer, and is also a given name in its own right. Ben meaning "son of" is also found in Arabic as ''Ben'' (dialectal Arabic) or ''bin ...

& Jan Kouwenhoven (born 1965 in Sneek) sailors, who competed at the

1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympics (, ), officially the Games of the XXV Olympiad (, ) and officially branded as Barcelona '92, were an international multi-sport event held from 25 July to 9 August 1992 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Beginning in 1994 ...

* Ronald Zoodsma (born 1966 in Sneek) a retired volleyball player, team silver medallist at the

* brothers Gerhard (1967 in Sneek – 2006) & Willem Potma (born 1969 in Sneek) sailors, who competed at the

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

and

1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...

* Pieter Huistra (born 1967 in Goënga) a Dutch former football winger with 394 club caps * Olof van der Meulen (born 1968 in Sneek) a retired volleyball player and team silver and gold medallist at the

and

* Rick Hofstra (born 1977 in Sneek) a Dutch professional darts player * Sandor van der Heide (born 1978 in Ysbrechtum) a football manager and former player with 282 club caps * Loes Geurts (born 1986 in Wûnseradiel) a Dutch football goalkeeper, over 100 caps for the

Netherlands women's national football team The Netherlands women's national football team () represents the Netherlands in international Women's association football, women's football, and is directed by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), which is a member of UEFA and FIFA. ...

Sherida Spitse Sherida Spitse (; born 29 May 1990) is a Dutch Association football, footballer who plays as a midfielder for AFC Ajax (women), Ajax and the Netherlands women's national football team, Netherlands national team. Club career Spitse started her c ...

(born 1990 in Sneek) a Dutch football midfielder with over 250 club caps and 175 international caps * Nyck de Vries (born 1995 in Sneek) is a Dutch

Formula E Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is an open-wheel single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. The racing series is the highest class of competition for electrically powered single-seater racing cars ...

racing driver * Liesette Bruinsma (born 2000) a Dutch Paralympic swimmer, lives in Wommels

References

External links

*
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sudwest-Fryslan Municipalities of Friesland Municipalities of the Netherlands established in 2011