Visit Netherlands
Discover the hidden gem Friesland with all of it's own cultures and traditions
Friesland, Netherlands
Did you know that Friesland is the only province with its own official language? It is not the only thing that makes the province so unique. The provincial capital of Leeuwarden with its canals, monuments and shopping streets is one of Holland’s best kept secrets. The wadden are a unique natural landscape that is transformed completely at the high and low tides. You should also visit the picturesque Eleven Cities or board the ferry to the Wadden Islands. Lonely Planet had good reasons for putting the province of Friesland number 3 on its list of hidden gems in Europe!
Visit Netherlands
Friesland has their own delicacies such as suikerbrood and Fryske Dûmkes.
Friesland, Netherlands
Visit Netherlands
Be part of the traditional 'water' sports they play in Friesland
Sloten, Friesland, Netherlands
Friesland is a water paradise! Nowhere else in Europe will you find such an extensive network of interconnected lakes, canals, ditches, ponds and rivers. The area attracts thousands of boaters and vacationers, who want to experience this unique water spectacle. The area offers a good balance between tourism, water sports and the extraordinary flora and fauna.
Visit Netherlands
Explore Friesland’s smallest city: Sloten
Sloten, Friesland, Netherlands
If ever there was a city destined be depicted on the face of a postcard, then it’s surely Sloten. Despite it being the smallest of Friesland’s 11 cities – and one of the smallest cities in the world – it offers visitors an abundance of idyllic canal-side streets to explore and beautiful buildings to admire. This fortress city also boasts a wealth of historic sights and mazy streets lined with cozy terraces, cafés and locks. It’s also the one of the cities on the route of the famous ‘Elfstedentocht’ skating competition, known in English as the Eleven Cities Tour. Located by the Slotermeer lake and with fewer than 760 residents, Sloten is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. It is home to two beautiful water gates and a scenic marina, and in the heart of Sloten you’ll also find the enchanting Museum Stedhûs Sleat. Housed in the city’s former town hall, its multimedia presentation and exhibits tell the story of Sloten's fascinating history, while an impressive copy of Dutch cartographer Nicolaas van Geelkerken's city map from 1616 sits on the curved wall of the museum’s Departure Hall. The museum shows how Sloten was of enormous strategic importance to Holland in the past due to its position on a major waterway from Sneek to the (former) Zuiderzee.
Visit Netherlands
Did you know that Friesland even has its own language and flag?
Sneek, Friesland, Netherlands
When you travel to the province of Friesland, it doesn’t mean you can’t get around. Most Frisian people speak and understand Dutch and English. If English is your native language you’re lucky; the Frisian and English language show a great resemblance. All Frisian cities and villages have a Frisian name of their own. Since Friesland is officially bilingual, the town signs bear the name in Frisian and in Dutch. So don’t be surprised if people in Leeuwarden tell you you are in ‘Ljouwert’ or call Sneek by its Frisian name ‘Snits’.
Visit Netherlands
Flora and fauna of Schiermonnikoog
Schiermonnikoog, Friesland, Netherlands
Schiermonnikoog is one of the five Wadden Islands. Due to the influence of the tides and its location between the Wadden Sea and the North Sea, the island has a climate that is different from that of the mainland. The island is characterized by diverse landscapes including beaches, dunes, forests, tidal marshes, polders, lakes and tidal flats. Furthermore, many different types of animals and plants reside there partly due to the island's special climate.
Visit Netherlands
Just as excited about Friesland as we are? Swipe up for more info!
Friesland, Netherlands
Friesland, a province in the north of Holland, is just a little different from the rest of the country. It is the only province with an official second language, for instance. The Wadden Sea is a nature reserve so special that it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009. But Friesland has much more than that. The Frisian lakes are perfect for boating, Leeuwarden offers a lovely urban environment, and the historical Eleven Cities each have their own charm and atmosphere. Discover the best destinations in Friesland!