Friesland

Friesland, province on the northern coast of the Netherlands, bordered on the west by the IJsselmeer, on the north by the North Sea, and on the south and east by the provinces of Overijssel, Groningen and Drente. The province extends across the tidal sea known as the Waddenzee to include a number of the West Frisian Islands, the largest of which are Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, and Schiermonnikoog. Friesland is crossed by two important canals, which connect the Ems River in Germany with both the IJsselmeer and the Waddenzee; the province also contains a number of lakes. Located in the low region of the Netherlands, much of Friesland lies below sea level; many of its towns and cities were originally established on earthen mounds called terpen, which were built to provide raised areas above the marshlands. One such settlement is Leeuwarden, the capital and largest city of the province. Friesland serves as the center of the Frisian culture and is home to the majority of the approximately 500,000 speakers of the Frisian language.

Friesland has a primarily agrarian economy. The province's poorly drained soils are best suited for pasture, and Friesland is well known in Europe for its cattle. The province's limited arable land, which includes areas of polders (land reclaimed from the sea), supports the growth of potatoes, wheat, and sugar beets. Tourism is also economically important to the province; it is concentrated along the North Sea coast.

Friesland's history is intertwined with the historical region of Frisia. The province became part of the Netherlands when it joined the Union of Utrecht in 1579 to combat Spanish domination. It continued to appoint its own stadtholders until 1747, when William IV of Orange became the sole stadtholder of all the United Provinces of the Netherlands. Friesland has maintained a distinct identity within the Netherlands; the 20th century has seen a resurgence in efforts to preserve the cultural and linguistic integrity of the Frisian people and to establish greater autonomy for Friesland. Due largely to these efforts, Frisian is an official language in Friesland and is taught in primary schools throughout the province. Area, 3,361 sq km (1,298 sq mi); population 639,787 (2003).