Sneek Snits (West Frisian) | |
|---|---|
City and former municipality | |
 Waterpoort | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Sneek Location in the Netherlands Show map of Friesland Sneek Sneek (Netherlands) Show map of Netherlands | |
| Coordinates:53°01′57″N05°39′36″E / 53.03250°N 5.66000°E /53.03250; 5.66000 | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | Friesland |
| Municipality | Súdwest-Fryslân |
| Area | |
• Total | 34.04 km2 (13.14 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 0.8 m (2.6 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 34,485 |
| • Density | 1,013/km2 (2,624/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 8600-08[1] |
| Dialing code | 0515 |
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Sneek (Dutch pronunciation:[sneːk]ⓘ;West Frisian:Snits[snɪts]) is acity southwest ofLeeuwarden and the seat of the former municipality of Sneek in the province ofFriesland,Netherlands. As of 2011 it is the seat of the municipality ofSúdwest-Fryslân (Southwest Friesland). The city had approximately 34,850 inhabitants in January 2024.[3]
Sneek is situated in Southwest Friesland, close to theSneekermeer, and is well known for its canals, theWaterpoort (Watergate, the symbol of the city), andwatersports (hosting the annualSneekweek, the largest sailing event on inland European waterways). Sneek is one of theFriese elf steden ("Eleven cities of Friesland"). The city is very important in the southwestern part of Friesland (called theZuidwesthoek, orSouthwest Corner).
Sneek was founded in the 10th century asChud on a sandy peninsula at the crossing site of adike with an important waterway (called theMagna Fossa in old documents). This waterway was dug when the formerMiddelzee silted up. The dike can still be traced in the current street pattern and street names likeHemdijk,Oude Dijk, andOosterdijk.
Sneek received severalcity rights in the 13th century, which became official in 1456. Sneek then became one of the eleven Frisian cities. This was also the beginning of a period of blooming trade for the city that would last until about 1550. In 1492 construction of amoat and wall around the city began. In those days Sneek was the only walled city in Friesland. TheWaterpoort and theBolwerk remain today.
Before 2011, the city was an independent municipality.
Since September 10, 1970, Sneek and the Japanese city ofKurobe have beensister cities. In 1970, Mayor L. Rasterhoff of Sneek visited the city of Kurobe and was named an honorary citizen. Mayor H. Terade of Kurobe made a visit to Sneek in 1972. In 2000 delegations of both cities visited each other again. The Japanese showed the citizens of Sneek a "Sneekplein", which was built in Kurobe.
Sneek has its owndialect (calledSnekers) that dates back to theDutch language before 1600. Snekers is part of theStadsfries dialects.
The clothing storeC&A started in 1841 with a store in Sneek. The Candyfactory Leaf producesPeppermint under the nameKING [nl] as well as chewing gum (Sportlife) and various other sweets. The name "KING" has nothing to do with the English word 'king'; it stands forKwaliteit in niets geëvenaard ("Quality equaled by nothing"). Sneek also has steel, machinery and rope factories. Since 1964 there is a factory ofYoshida YKK fromKurobe. Besides that, the supermarket branchPoiesz, clothing brandGaastra and Frisian gin calledbeerenburg fromWeduwe Joustra are products that have their roots in Sneek.
Sneek is well known as the center of watersports with over 130 watersport companies and 13Marinas. It also has a historic inner city replete with houses of old upper-class families.
By road, Sneek is connected to theA7 motorway andN354
Sneek is connected by rail through its main stationSneek railway station and theSneek Noord railway station on theLeeuwarden-Stavoren railway line operated byArriva.
Buses in the town are operated byQbuzz.
Sneek is connected to other cities by four main waterways:Houkesloot, leading to thePrinses Margriet Canal; Riverde Geeuw, leading to IJlst;de Zwette, leading to Leeuwarden;Franekervaart, leading to Franeker.
In 2010 there will be a Cultural Quarter, The municipality has made plans to connect various Cultural areas into one big Cultural Quarter. The total costs of the plans are about €35,000,000 and include
The Culture Award of Sneek is called The Silver Ball and has been awarded 11 times. The award is given annually to a person that has done an improvement/good job on the areas of Music and Culture for Sneek and its surroundings. Some of the winners are:
Sneek has eleven primary schools and three high schools.
Sneek has around 17,143 houses. Half of those houses are rental houses. There are new projects in different neighbourhoods.
In 1519–1520, the Frisian warlord and freedom fighterPier Gerlofs Donia spent his last days in Sneek. Donia died peacefully in bed atGrootzand (Sneek) [nl] 12[4] on 18 October 1520.[5] Pier is buried in Sneek in the 15th-century Groote Kerk (also called the Martinikerk).[6] His tomb is located on the north side of the church.[7]
The city has a shopping center that is walker- and biker-friendly. There are high-end clothing stores, restaurants, bars, music stores, cafes, coffee shops, and an old-fashioned candy store.
George Simenon's 1937 novelL'assassin, about a doctor who murders his wife and her lover, is set in Sneek.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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See also:Elfstedentocht | ||
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