Photos of Central Friesland, the Netherlands

Friesland Flag
Images of the World
Flag of the Netherlands

Central Friesland

Central Fryslân is characterised by lakes, and shallow pools that are a result of the extraction of peat in the Middle Ages. Canals and ditches traverse the meadows and it is said that any place can be reached by boat. It isn't surprising that this region is very popular with boating enthusiasts.

Sint Nicolaaskerk, Swichum
 
Sint Nicolaaskerk, Swichum
 
Commemorative plaques
 
View to Bears
 
Uniastate construction
 
Ald Poarte, Uniastate
 
Jellum church
 
View to Oosterwierum
 
Church on a terp
 
Churchyard in Easterwierrum
 
Zwette river
 
Village of Raerd
 
View near Raerd
 
Sailing, Alde Feanen
 
Mooring, Earnewâld
 
View to Grou
 
Street in Jirnsum
 
View from the Grienedyk
 
Sam on the Grienedyk
 
Sailing, Sneekermeer
 
Sailing harbour
 
Boating to Sneekermeer
 
“Klokkestoel” church
 
Small ferry, Goingarijp
 
On the Houkesloot
 
Church of Offingawier
 
House in Offenwier
 
Boats, Sneekermeer
 
Tersoal Syl
 
Fields, Tersoal
 
Church of Tersoal
 
Church, Tersoal
 
Farm house, Tersoal
 
House in Tersoal
 
Mother and daughter
 
Typical house, Tersoal
 
Canal in Tersoal
 
Children's games
 
In Tersoal (Terzool)
 
House across bridge
 
Spinnekopmolen
 
Meadows at Ysbrechtum
 
Stadslaan, IJlst
 
Church bell, IJlst
 
Wilddraai, IJlst
 
Canal in IJlst
 
Galamagracht, in IJlst
 
Galamagracht, IJlst
 

The Sneekermeer (Snitser Mar in Frisian) is one of the most popular. Connected to this lake, just to the south, are the Goingarijpster Poelen; the village of Goingarijp (Goaiïngaryp in Frisian) has a church with a "Klokkestoel", a free-standing clock tower, typical of the region. Further to the north east is a complex of small lakes called "Oude Venen" (Old Peats, another reminder how these were formed) with its aquatic centre of Earnewâld (Eernewoude in Dutch).

The Sneekermeer is named after and linked via the Houkesloot canal to Sneek (Snits in Frisian), one of Friesland's eleven cities; it has around 33,000 inhabitants. Small picturesque farming villages surround it, like Tersoal, a Frisian speaking community of around 300, with a rustic old church, and Offingawier (Offenwier), just to the east of the city. It is a region that is ideal to explore on a bicycle - like much of Fryslân.