Franeker Frjentsjer (West Frisian) | |
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 The formercity hall (left) and theEise Eisinga Planetarium (right) | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Motto(s): | |
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 Location in the former municipality ofFranekeradeel | |
  Franeker Location within the Netherlands Show map of Friesland Franeker Location within Europe Show map of Netherlands Franeker Franeker (Europe) Show map of Europe | |
| Coordinates:53°11′N5°32′E / 53.183°N 5.533°E /53.183; 5.533 | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | Friesland |
| Municipality | Waadhoeke |
| Area | |
• Total | 18.17 km2 (7.02 sq mi) |
| • Land | 17.42 km2 (6.73 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0.75 km2 (0.29 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1.1 m (3.6 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 13,015 |
| • Density | 720/km2 (1,900/sq mi) |
| Postal code | 8801, 8802[1] |
| Dialing code | 0517 |
| Website | www |
Franeker (Dutch pronunciation:[ˈfraːnəkər]ⓘ;West Frisian:Frjentsjer[ˈfrjɛntsjər]) is one of the eleven historicalcities ofFriesland and capital of the municipality ofWaadhoeke. It is located north of theVan Harinxmakanaal and about 20 km (12 mi) west ofLeeuwarden. As of 2023, it had 13,015 inhabitants.[1]World Heritage Site theEise Eisinga Planetarium, established in 1781, is located in the city.
Franeker was founded around 800 as aCarolingian stronghold. The name probably derives fromFroon-acker, meaning 'land of the lord/king'; the oldest street in the city is still called Froonacker. Beginning around the 11th century, Franeker developed into the administrative center of northernWestergoa.[3]
Franeker receivedcity rights in 1417,[4] when it was recognised as an independent city and, through theBuurbrief ('Citizen's letter'), formally separated from thegrietenijFranekeradeel [nl].[5]
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At the end of the 15th century,Albert, Duke of Saxony established himself in Franeker, when he had taken over Friesland with the help of theSchieringers led byHessel van Martena [nl]. On 12 May 1500, the city was besieged by an army of 16,000 dissatisfied Frisians during theSiege of Franeker [nl], as a result of the high rents and taxes levied by Albert and his sonsHenry andGeorge of Saxony. Henry established his seat in the city of Franeker. The Frisians achieved nothing with the siege of the city because they were poorly trained and organised. Duke Albert of Saxony hastily assembled a large army to relieve Henry and the city of Franeker. Finally, the Frisians were defeated on 16 July 1500 and the city was relieved. On 26 March 1501, Henry IV of Saxony gave the city of Franeker a considerable (200morgen) piece ofsalt marshland outside the dike, called the Franekerlanden. Three years later, Henry handed over the government of Friesland to his brother George.[6][7]
Franeker seemed to become the capital of Friesland at the end of the 15th century. In 1504, however, the Saxons fled toLeeuwarden.[8] After that, the city remained important to theSaxons for a long time, until Friesland was transferred as a possession toCharles V in 1524.[9]
When theDutch Republic revolted against theSpanish Empire, Franeker chose the side ofWilliam of Orange early on. In 1579, Friesland joined theUnion of Utrecht in the joint fight against Spain. In 1580, theStates of Friesland decided that only theReformed doctrine was permitted. In order to meet a growing demand for ministers, lawyers, and doctors, the States decided to found a university.[10]
As such, aProtestant university, theUniversity of Franeker, the oldest in the Netherlands after theUniversity of Leiden, was established on 29 July 1585.[3] The university was housed in the former monastery building of theCrosiers. At this Academy of Friesland, donated by the FrisianstadtholderWilliam Louis, one could study theology, law, medicine, classical languages, philosophy, mathematics, and physics.[11] Some notable students includeWilliam IV, Prince of Orange,Peter Stuyvesant,René Descartes, andEise Eisinga.[12][13][14][15] It was closed shortly after the incorporation of theKingdom of Holland into theFrench Empire, whenNapoleon Bonaparte closed the academy in 1811. A successor institution, theRijksatheneum, was founded in 1815, but in 1847 it, too, closed.[3]
In 1984, the municipalities of Franeker andFranekeradeel [nl], as well as part of the municipality ofBarradeel, were merged into the new municipality ofFranekeradeel.[16]
On 1 January 2018, Franeker became the main town of the newly formed municipality ofWaadhoeke. The town hall is located on the Harlingerstraatweg in Franeker.
Franeker is located in the municipality ofWaadhoeke in the northwest of the province ofFriesland in the north of theNetherlands. It is east of the city ofHarlingen, north of theVan Harinxmakanaal, south of theWadden Sea coast, and about 20 km (12 mi) west of the provincial capitalLeeuwarden.
As of 2023, the city of Franeker had a population of 13,015.[1]
TheEise Eisinga Planetarium and theMuseum Martena are museums located in the city. The Planetarium is anorrery built between 1774 and 1781 by the local wool carderEise Eisinga to explain aconjunction of the planets and to help mitigate local fears of what would happen during the planets' alignment. Built in Eisinga's own living room, it is the oldest continuously operating orrery in the world. In 2023, the Planetarium was officially designated aUNESCO World Heritage Site.[17]
Museum Martena, opened in 2006, is housed in theMartenahuis. This oldstins was built in 1502 by order ofHessel van Martena [nl] and was the residence ofCampegius Vitringa andAnna Maria van Schurman in the second half of the 17th century. The museum is devoted to the history of the city and the region.[18]
The windmillArkens is ahollow post mill which has been restored. It originally stood inArkens and was moved in 1972. It is the only windmill in the Netherlands equipped withVlinderwieken (English:Butterfly sails).[19]
Since 1852, Franeker has been the home of thePC [nl], the most important tournament inFrisian handball.
Franeker is a regular host of theFrisian draughts competitions.[20]
Being one of the Frisian cities, Franeker is also on the route of the 200 kilometres (120 mi)Elfstedentocht (Eleven-cities Tour), an endurance skating event held at irregular intervals depending on weather conditions.
Franeker railway station is a station on theNS line betweenLeeuwarden andHarlingen. It also had a station on theNorth Friesland Railway which was the terminus of a branch fromTzummarum. The line opened in October 1903 and closed in October 1933. The station building survives.
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See also:Elfstedentocht | ||
