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Principality of Friesland's District of
Ljouwert
District Leader:
Position is currently vacant
Ancient name of Leeuwarden, in Friesland - land of the Frisians.
Ljouwert (Leeuwarden) the capital of Friesland, is located on the Ee River, 112 km/70 miles northeast of Amsterdam. The town, which is intersected by numerous canals, trades in grain, dairy produce, and cattle, and manufactures glass, gold and silver ware, musical instruments, and textiles. After the draining of the Middelzee fenlands in the 15th and 16th centuries, the town changed from a port to an agricultural market town. Chartered in 1435, Ljouwert was the centre of a goldworking and silverworking industry during the 16th to 18th centuries.
Many structures date from the 16th and 17th centuries, notably the brick Oldehove Tower. Recently, the remains of houses dating back to the 2nd century AD were discovered during a dig near the Oldehove. Notable buildings include the palace of the stadholders of Friesland, the Kanselarij (the former chancellery), the Waag (old trade centre of the city), the church of St. Bonifatius and the church of St Jacob. Famous natives of Ljouwert include stadtholder William IV of Orange. Ljouwert is the site of the country's largest cattle market and on Ascension Day, the largest flower market in the Netherlands is held here.
The Middelzee:
Image courtesy of Wikipedia Wikimedia Commons:
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