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Click
on any of the
following links to find out more about churches in cities and villages
in Fryslân:
Places
are mentioned by their official names. Links in bold refer to pages
showing a selection of churches in specific towns, villages or
municipalities (these are marked "mun."), all others refer directly to
descriptions of a specific church. For an
overview of all churches in Fryslân that are described in more detail on
Archimon see the pictorial
index.)
Blauwhuis
Blije
Boazum
Bolsward
Burgum
Damwoude
Dantumadeel (mun.)
Dearsum
Dokkum
Dongeradeel (mun.)
Dronrijp
Easterlittens
Exmorra
Ferwerderadiel (mun.)
Ferwert
Goutum
Grou
Hallum
Hantum
Hantumhuizen
Harlingen
Heeg
Heerenveen
Hegebeintum
Hijum
Holwerd
Janum
Jelsum
Jistrum
Jorwert
Kollum
Leeuwarden (mun.)
Nijland
Oudega
Rinsumageest
Sint
Nicolaasga
Sneek
Stiens
Súdwest Fryslân (mun.)
Westergeest
Weststellingwerf (mun.)
Wetsens
Wolvega
Wommels
Workum
Woudsend
Wouterswoude
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Although
in most of the Netherlands known as Friesland, Fryslân, as it is
called in the Frisian language, is the official name for this northern
province. The oldest information about this province dates from the
first century, when the Frisians were allies, although tributary, of
the Romans, whose empire had the river Rhine as its border. The
Frisians populated the area east and north of this river, including
parts of the current Germany. Other Germanic tribes moved to this area
in the next few centuries, with the Saxons being of great influence in
the east and the Francs in the south. The Francish kings sent several
missionaries to christianize the Frisians and expanded their empire
with parts of Frisian territory. In the 11th century Friesland had
become part of the German empire. Gradually it was divided, with a part
becoming increasingly Saxon (the current province of Groningen), which
seperates the current Fryslân from what is now the German
province of Ost-Friesland. In 1288 arch-enemy Holland conquered
West-Friesland, which was seperated from the rest of Friesland by the
Zuiderzee. The remaining Friesland managed to withstand every invasion,
until in 1524 Charles V added the province to his empire. It remained a
rebellious province, one of the first to resist the power of the
Spanish Habsburgs. After 1576 Spain lost the province, which was now
ruled by a stadtholder from the Oranje-Nassau family. Under Orangist
rule the province became strictly calvinistic, although in several
places catholic minorities managed to survive. Many Frisian noblemen
left Friesland to live in Holland, from where they ruled their
belongings. The Republic brought the province a long period of economic
decay and stagnation. Up to this day Friesland is still largely
agricultural, albeit with eleven towns and cities, of which the capital
Leeuwarden is the biggest.
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