Friesland a world apart
Friesland is one of the most northerly provinces of the Netherlands. The province is known for its nature, landscapes and waterways. Every year, the Frisian lakes are the center of much tourism that, for example, come to events such as Skûtsjesilen.
Every year when winter arrives in the Netherlands, a kind of fever develops in Friesland, called the Eleven cities fever. If the weather permits, a large-scale skating event is organized in the province, namely the Eleven cities tour. A journey of 200 kilometers in often harsh weather conditions that guides the participants through the Eleven cities of Friesland. but Friesland is of course much more than just those two events.
Like in every country you will also find dialects in the Netherlands, however, Friesland does not have a dialect but its own language. A language that is very different from the Dutch language. The Frisians are therefore a very proud people and they are very attached to their own language and Frisian culture.
Something else that the Frisians are seriously proud of is their horses. Friesian horses are a breed in themselves. Beautiful to see, very stately and incredibly powerful.
The vast majority of the province is agricultural. Livestock farming in particular is a common professional sector in this province. Because of the vast flat fields, Friesland is also the province where you go if you want to see the Dutch vistas. Great Dutch masters came to Friesland for their expansive views but also because of the typical Dutch cloud cover.
Friesland is a water province and they have always had to struggle with water in the past. For that reason you still find terp homes in Friesland. Homes that were built on hills (mounds) to keep the washing water out.
The province of Friesland is connected to the province of Noord-Holland via the Afsluitdijk. This dike was built in 1927 and is a flood defense between the IJsselmeer on one side (formerly known as the Zuiderzee) and the Wadden Sea on the other. The dike was constructed to protect the Netherlands against flooding.