Súdwest-Fryslân (West Frisian pronunciation: [ˈsytʋɛst ˈfrislɔ̃ːn]; lit. 'Southwest Friesland') is a municipality in the northern Netherlands, located in the province of Friesland. It had a population of 89,999 in January 2021. Sneek is the municipal seat. With a total area of 841.56 km2, Southwest-Friesland is the largest municipality by area in the Netherlands.
Contents
History
Southwest-Friesland was formed in 2011 from the old municipalities of Bolsward, Nijefurd, Sneek, 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, Sneek, 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.
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 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 (1496 in Witmarsum – 1561) a Roman Catholic priest, an influential Anabaptist religious leader, his followers became known as Mennonites
brothers Boetius à Bolswert (ca.1585 in Bolsward – 1633) and Schelte a Bolswert (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 jurist and diplomat
Jacob Potma (ca.1630 in Workum – 1704) a Dutch Golden Age painter
Jacob Binckes (1637 in Koudum – 1677) a Dutch commodore
Lambert Bos (1670 in Workum – 1717) a 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 painter and draftsman
Sgnt James H. Burbank (1838 in Stavoren – 1911) a soldier, awarded the US Medal of Honor
Hobbe Smith (1862 in Witmarsum – 1942) a painter in the Post-Impressionist style
B.D. Dykstra (1871 in Pingjum – 1955) a Dutch American pastor, educator and poet
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
Wout Zijlstra (born 1964 in Wolsum) a former strongman and Highland Games athlete
twin brothers Ben & Jan Kouwenhoven (born 1965 in Sneek) sailors, who competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Ronald Zoodsma (born 1966 in Sneek) a retired volleyball player, team silver medallist at the 1992 Summer Olympics
brothers Gerhard (1967 in Sneek – 2006) & Willem Potma (born 1969 in Sneek) sailors, who competed at the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics
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 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics
Rick Hofstra (born 1977 in Sneek) a 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
Sherida Spitse (born 1990 in Sneek) a Dutch football midfielder with over 250 club caps and 175 international caps