Template:About Template:Use dmy dates Template:Main other{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox settlement with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | alt | anthem | anthem_link | area_blank1_acre | area_blank1_dunam | area_blank1_ha | area_blank1_km2 | area_blank1_sq_mi | area_blank1_title | area_blank2_acre | area_blank2_dunam | area_blank2_ha | area_blank2_km2 | area_blank2_sq_mi | area_blank2_title | area_code | area_code_type | area_codes | area_footnotes | area_land_acre | area_land_dunam | area_land_ha | area_land_km2 | area_land_sq_mi | area_metro_acre | area_metro_dunam | area_metro_footnotes | area_metro_ha | area_metro_km2 | area_metro_sq_mi | area_note | area_rank | area_rural_acre | area_rural_dunam | area_rural_footnotes | area_rural_ha | area_rural_km2 | area_rural_sq_mi | area_total_acre | area_total_dunam | area_total_ha | area_total_km2 | area_total_sq_mi | area_urban_acre | area_urban_dunam | area_urban_footnotes | area_urban_ha | area_urban_km2 | area_urban_sq_mi | area_water_acre | area_water_dunam | area_water_ha | area_water_km2 | area_water_percent | area_water_sq_mi | blank_emblem_alt | blank_emblem_link | blank_emblem_size | blank_emblem_type | blank_info | blank_info_sec1 | blank_info_sec2 | blank_name | blank_name_sec1 | blank_name_sec2 | blank1_info | blank1_info_sec1 | blank1_info_sec2 | blank1_name | blank1_name_sec1 | blank1_name_sec2 | blank2_info | blank2_info_sec1 | blank2_info_sec2 | blank2_name | blank2_name_sec1 | blank2_name_sec2 | blank3_info | blank3_info_sec1 | blank3_info_sec2 | blank3_name | blank3_name_sec1 | blank3_name_sec2 | blank4_info | blank4_info_sec1 | blank4_info_sec2 | blank4_name | blank4_name_sec1 | blank4_name_sec2 | blank5_info | blank5_info_sec1 | blank5_info_sec2 | blank5_name | blank5_name_sec1 | blank5_name_sec2 | blank6_info | blank6_info_sec1 | blank6_info_sec2 | blank6_name | blank6_name_sec1 | blank6_name_sec2 | blank7_info | blank7_info_sec1 | blank7_info_sec2 | blank7_name | blank7_name_sec1 | blank7_name_sec2 | caption | code1_info | code1_name | code2_info | code2_name | coor_pinpoint | coor_type | coordinates | coordinates_footnotes | demographics_type1 | demographics_type2 | demographics1_footnotes | demographics1_info1 | demographics1_info10 | demographics1_info2 | demographics1_info3 | demographics1_info4 | demographics1_info5 | demographics1_info6 | demographics1_info7 | demographics1_info8 | demographics1_info9 | demographics1_title1 | demographics1_title10 | demographics1_title2 | demographics1_title3 | demographics1_title4 | demographics1_title5 | demographics1_title6 | demographics1_title7 | demographics1_title8 | demographics1_title9 | demographics2_footnotes | demographics2_info1 | demographics2_info10 | demographics2_info2 | demographics2_info3 | demographics2_info4 | demographics2_info5 | demographics2_info6 | demographics2_info7 | demographics2_info8 | demographics2_info9 | demographics2_title1 | demographics2_title10 | demographics2_title2 | demographics2_title3 | demographics2_title4 | demographics2_title5 | demographics2_title6 | demographics2_title7 | demographics2_title8 | demographics2_title9 | dimensions_footnotes | dunam_link | elevation_footnotes | elevation_ft | elevation_link | elevation_m | elevation_max_footnotes | elevation_max_ft | elevation_max_m | elevation_max_point | elevation_max_rank | elevation_min_footnotes | elevation_min_ft | elevation_min_m | elevation_min_point | elevation_min_rank | elevation_point | embed | established_date | established_date1 | established_date2 | established_date3 | established_date4 | established_date5 | established_date6 | established_date7 | established_title | established_title1 | established_title2 | established_title3 | established_title4 | established_title5 | established_title6 | established_title7 | etymology | extinct_date | extinct_title | flag_alt | flag_border | flag_link | flag_size | footnotes | founder | geocode | governing_body | government_footnotes | government_type | government_blank1_title | government_blank1 | government_blank2_title | government_blank2 | government_blank2_title | government_blank3 | government_blank3_title | government_blank3 | government_blank4_title | government_blank4 | government_blank5_title | government_blank5 | government_blank6_title | government_blank6 | grid_name | grid_position | image_alt | image_blank_emblem | image_caption | image_flag | image_map | image_map1 | image_seal | image_shield | image_size | image_skyline | imagesize | iso_code | leader_name | leader_name1 | leader_name2 | leader_name3 | leader_name4 | leader_party | leader_title | leader_title1 | leader_title2 | leader_title3 | leader_title4 | length_km | length_mi | map_alt | map_alt1 | map_caption | map_caption1 | mapsize | mapsize1 | module | motto | motto_link | mottoes | name | named_for | native_name | native_name_lang | nickname | nickname_link | nicknames | official_name | other_name | p1 | p10 | p11 | p12 | p13 | p14 | p15 | p16 | p17 | p18 | p19 | p2 | p20 | p21 | p22 | p23 | p24 | p25 | p26 | p27 | p28 | p29 | p3 | p30 | p31 | p32 | p33 | p34 | p35 | p36 | p37 | p38 | p39 | p4 | p40 | p41 | p42 | p43 | p44 | p45 | p46 | p47 | p48 | p49 | p5 | p50 | p6 | p7 | p8 | p9 | parts | parts_style | parts_type | pop_est_as_of | pop_est_footnotes | population | population_as_of | population_blank1 | population_blank1_footnotes | population_blank1_title | population_blank2 | population_blank2_footnotes | population_blank2_title | population_demonym | population_demonyms | population_density_blank1_km2 | population_density_blank1_sq_mi | population_density_blank2_km2 | population_density_blank2_sq_mi | population_density_km2 | population_density_metro_km2 | population_density_metro_sq_mi | population_density_rank | population_density_rural_km2 | population_density_rural_sq_mi | population_density_sq_mi | population_density_urban_km2 | population_density_urban_sq_mi | population_est | population_footnotes | population_metro | population_metro_footnotes | population_note | population_rank | population_rural | population_rural_footnotes | population_total | population_urban | population_urban_footnotes | postal_code | postal_code_type | postal2_code | postal2_code_type | pushpin_image | pushpin_label | pushpin_label_position | pushpin_map | pushpin_map_alt | pushpin_map_caption | pushpin_map_caption_notsmall | pushpin_map_narrow | pushpin_mapsize | pushpin_outside | pushpin_overlay | pushpin_relief | registration_plate | registration_plate_type | seal_alt | seal_link | seal_size | seal_type | seat | seat_type | seat1 | seat1_type | seat2 | seat2_type | settlement_type | shield_alt | shield_link | shield_size | short_description | subdivision_name | subdivision_name1 | subdivision_name2 | subdivision_name3 | subdivision_name4 | subdivision_name5 | subdivision_name6 | subdivision_type | subdivision_type1 | subdivision_type2 | subdivision_type3 | subdivision_type4 | subdivision_type5 | subdivision_type6 | timezone | timezone_DST | timezone_link | timezone1 | timezone1_DST | timezone1_location | timezone2 | timezone2_DST | timezone2_location | timezone3 | timezone3_DST | timezone3_location | timezone4 | timezone4_DST | timezone4_location | timezone5 | timezone5_DST | timezone5_location | total_type | translit_lang1 | translit_lang1_info | translit_lang1_info1 | translit_lang1_info2 | translit_lang1_info3 | translit_lang1_info4 | translit_lang1_info5 | translit_lang1_info6 | translit_lang1_type | translit_lang1_type1 | translit_lang1_type2 | translit_lang1_type3 | translit_lang1_type4 | translit_lang1_type5 | translit_lang1_type6 | translit_lang2 | translit_lang2_info | translit_lang2_info1 | translit_lang2_info2 | translit_lang2_info3 | translit_lang2_info4 | translit_lang2_info5 | translit_lang2_info6 | translit_lang2_type | translit_lang2_type1 | translit_lang2_type2 | translit_lang2_type3 | translit_lang2_type4 | translit_lang2_type5 | translit_lang2_type6 | type | unit_pref | utc_offset | utc_offset_DST | utc_offset1 | utc_offset1_DST | utc_offset2 | utc_offset2_DST | utc_offset3 | utc_offset3_DST | utc_offset4 | utc_offset4_DST | utc_offset5 | utc_offset5_DST | website | width_km | width_mi | mapframe | mapframe-area_km2 | mapframe-area_mi2 | mapframe-caption | mapframe-coord | mapframe-coordinates | mapframe-custom | mapframe-frame-coord | mapframe-frame-coordinates | mapframe-frame-height | mapframe-frame-width | mapframe-geomask | mapframe-geomask-fill | mapframe-geomask-fill-opacity | mapframe-geomask-stroke-color | mapframe-geomask-stroke-colour | mapframe-geomask-stroke-width | mapframe-height | mapframe-id | mapframe-length_km | mapframe-length_mi | mapframe-marker | mapframe-marker-color | mapframe-marker-colour | mapframe-point | mapframe-shape | mapframe-shape-fill | mapframe-shape-fill-opacity | mapframe-stroke-color | mapframe-stroke-colour | mapframe-stroke-width | mapframe-switcher | mapframe-width | mapframe-wikidata | mapframe-zoom }}{{#invoke:Check for clobbered parameters|check | template = Infobox settlement | cat = Template:Main other | population; population_total | image_size; imagesize | image_alt; alt | image_caption; caption }}{{#if:

|

}}Template:Main other

Leeuwarden ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}; Template:Langx {{#invoke:IPA|main}}; Template:Langx; Template:Langx) is a city and municipality in Friesland, Netherlands, with a population of 127,073 (2023). It is the provincial capital and seat of the Provincial Council of Friesland.

The region has been continuously inhabited since the 10th century. It came to be known as Leeuwarden in the early 9th century AD and was granted city privileges in 1435. It is the main economic hub of Friesland, situated in a green and water-rich environment. Leeuwarden is a former royal residence and has a historic city centre, many historically relevant buildings, and a large shopping centre with squares and restaurants. Leeuwarden was awarded the title European Capital of Culture for 2018. Also, Leeuwarden has been a UNESCO City of Literature since 2019.

The {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Eleven Cities Tour), an ice skating tour passing the eleven cities of Friesland, starts and finishes in Leeuwarden.

The following towns and villages within the municipality have populations in excess of 1,000 people: Leeuwarden, Stiens, Grou, Goutum, Wergea, Jirnsum, Reduzum, and Wirdum. The municipality is governed by the mayor Sybrand van Haersma Buma and a coalition of the Labour Party, Christian Democratic Appeal, and GreenLeft.

EtymologyEdit

The name "Leeuwarden" (or older variants of it) first came into use for Nijehove, the most important of the three villages (the other two being Oldehove and Hoek) which in the early 9th century merged into Leeuwarden (Villa Lintarwrde Template:Circa 825).<ref name="groot_10">Template:Harvnb</ref> There is much uncertainty about the origin of the city's name. Historian and archivist Wopke Eekhoff summed up a total of over 200 different spelling variants, of which Leeuwarden (Dutch), Liwwadden (Stadsfries), and Ljouwert (West Frisian) are still in use.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="groot_12">Template:Harvnb</ref>

The second part of the name is easily explained: Warden, West Frisian/Dutch/Low German for an artificial dwelling-hill, is a designation of terps, reflecting the historical situation.<ref name="groot_12"/>

The first part of the name, leeuw, means lion in modern standard Dutch. This interpretation corresponds with the coat of arms adopted by the city, which features a heraldic lion. However, modern standard Dutch was not used in this region in the Middle Ages, when the city was called Lintarwrde. Some scholars argue that the name of the city is derived from leeu-, a corruption of luw- (Dutch for 'sheltered from the wind', cf. the maritime term leeward) or from lee- (a Dutch word for waterway). 'Sheltered landing place or harbour' could be the original meaning. This suits the watery province of Friesland and the position of the original three villages at the end of an important estuary called Middelzee.<ref name="groot_12"/>

The name is also similar to that of the French commune Lewarde, located in the Nord Department, an originally Flemish-speaking area annexed to France in the 17th century. Western Flemish was related to Frisian and also to Saxon up to the 11th century.

HistoryEdit

File:Duit 1702 - Netherlands (Friesland - Frisia).jpg
Copper 1 duit coin minted in Leeuwarden in 1702. The obverse depicts the city's coat of arms.

The oldest remains of houses date back to the 2nd century AD in the Roman era and were discovered during an excavation near the Oldehove. Inhabited continuously since the 10th century, the city's first reference as a population centre is in German sources from 1285, and records exist of city privileges granted in 1435. Template:Citation needed Situated along the Middelzee, it was an active centre of maritime trade.<ref>Stadsgeschiedenis Leeuwarden Template:Webarchive, Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden.</ref> The waterway silted-up in the 13th century.<ref>Langen, G. de Leeuwarden 750 - 2000 Hoofdstad van Friesland p. 19 (Franeker 1999)</ref> Template:Historical populations The Grote or Jacobijnerkerk (Template:Langx) is the oldest building in the city. The 15th century was the period of the two opposing Frisian factional parties Vetkopers and Schieringers. The bastions and a moat were built in the period 1481–1494. In 1747 William IV, Prince of Orange was the last stadtholder residing in the Stadhouderlijk Hof. In the first half of the 19th century the fortifications were demolished.

From 1580 to 1752, a provincial mint operated in the city, minting gold, silver and copper coins of Friesland.<ref>De muntslag van Friesland Template:Webarchive www.duiten.nl</ref>

The Jewish community of Leeuwarden was one of the earliest in the Netherlands aside from Amsterdam, and was first mentioned in 1645.<ref name="bh.org.il">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="www.dutchjewry.org">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By 1670, the city council granted a man referred to as "Jacob the Jew" (in Dutch) permission to build a Jewish cemetery, meaning that there were enough Jews living there to require a cemetery and other communal institutions.<ref name="bh.org.il" /> Land for 'The Jodenkerkhof' (Jews' cemetery) was purchased in 1679, near the Oldehove tower.<ref name="www.dutchjewry.org" />

The first synagogue in the city was built in the 17th century, and was also used by the city's Catholics who were not allowed to build a house of worship of their own because of the Protestant city authorities.<ref name="bh.org.il" /> The Jewish community enjoyed generally good relations with authorities in the 18th century and continued to expand throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, reaching a peak population of 1,236 in 1860.<ref name="bh.org.il" />

In 1901 the city's population was 32,203.

Leeuwarden, like the rest of the Netherlands, was occupied by German forces in 1940–1945. This ended when elements of the Royal Canadian Dragoons seized the initiative and advanced into the heavily-defended city on 15 April 1945, ignoring direct orders to wait for supporting infantry. German forces had been driven out by the end of the next day. (The anniversary is marked by both the Dragoons and the city, by flying each other's flags every 15 April.)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Kneppelfreed (Template:Langx) was an incident on 16 November 1951 in front of the courthouse at Wilhelminaplein (Wilhelmina Square), when the police used batons against Frisian language activists during a protest against the exclusive use of Dutch in the courts.<ref>Canon of Frisian History - Kneppelfreed Template:Webarchive 11en30.nu Retrieved 28 March 2018.</ref> A committee of inquiry recommended that the Frisian language should receive legal status as a minority language.

On 19 October 2013, a fire broke out in a clothes shop on a busy pedestrian street. The fire started late in the afternoon and burned through the night, destroying five shops and eleven flats. The only casualty was a 24-year-old man who was living in one of the flats.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The birthplace of Mata Hari was at first thought to be destroyed, but survived, albeit with considerable smoke and water damage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

HeraldryEdit

The coat of arms of Leeuwarden is the official symbol of the municipality. It consists of a blue escutcheon, a golden lion, and a crown. The fact that Leeuwarden carries a lion in its seal seems logical, considering that "Leeuw" is Dutch for "Lion". However, it is very plausible the oldest name of the city conceals an indication of water rather than an animal, and some sources suggest that the lion may have only been added after the name became official. It is also possible the coat of arms was a gift to the city from the powerful Minnema family.<ref name="44_gemeenten">Template:Cite book</ref>

GeographyEdit

File:Leeuwarden-plaats-OpenTopo.jpg
Map of the city of Leeuwarden (2014)
File:Gem-Leeuwarden-OpenTopo.jpg
Dutch topographic map of the municipality of Leeuwarden
File:Bevolkingsontwikkeling gemeente Leeuwarden.jpg
Historical population municipality (1714–2024).

Leeuwarden is located centrally in Friesland. The military Leeuwarden Air Base lies northwest of the city. East of the city lies recreational area and nature reserve De Groene Ster. It contains the windmill Himriksmole, a golf course and AquaZoo Friesland.<ref>AquaZoo Friesland Template:Webarchive Retrieved 2 April 2018.</ref>

Population centresEdit

On 1 January 2014 parts of the neighbouring Boarnsterhim municipality were added to Leeuwarden.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 1 January 2018 it was enlarged by Leeuwarderadeel and parts of former municipality of Littenseradiel.

Dutch name West Frisian name Population
Leeuwarden Ljouwert 92,146
Stiens Stiens 7,545
Grouw Grou 5,655
Goutum Goutum 2,945
Warga Wergea 1,685
Irnsum Jirnsum 1,360
Wirdum Wurdum 1,210
Mantgum Mantgum 1,175
Roordahuizum Reduzum 1,125
Britsum Britsum 960
Wartena Warten 915
Wytgaard Wytgaard 570
Weidum Weidum 570
Cornjum Koarnjum 435
Oosterlittens Easterlittens 435
Lekkum Lekkum 425
Hijum Hijum 415
Jorwerd Jorwert 335
Jelsum Jelsum 325
Hijlaard Hilaard 295
Oude Leije Alde Leie 255
Snakkerburen Snakkerbuorren 225
Finkum Feinsum 205
Baard Baard 185
Hempens Himpens 155
Jellum Jellum 150
Beers Bears 125
Huins Húns 115
Idaard Idaerd 80
Friens Friens 80
Swichum Swichum 50
Warstiens Warstiens 35
Aegum Eagum 35
Miedum Miedum 30
Lions Leons 26
Teerns Tearns 16
Total 122,293
Source: Statistics Netherlands<ref>Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2017 Template:Webarchive [Key figures for neighbourhoods], CBS Statline (in Dutch) CBS 2 Februari 2018 . Retrieved on 1 March 2018.</ref><ref>Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand Template:Webarchive, [Population growth; regions per month], CBS Statline (in Dutch) CBS 28 Februari 2018 . Retrieved on 1 March 2018.</ref>

HamletsEdit

The hamlets within the municipality are: Abbenwier, Angwier, Baarderbuorren, Bartlehiem (partially), De Him, De Hoek, De Trije Romers, Domwier, Finsterbuorren, Fûns, Groote Bontekoe, Goatum, Hesens, Hoarne, Hoptille, It Hoflân, It Wiel, Marwert, Midsbuorren, Narderbuorren, Noardein, Oude Schouw (partially), Poelhuzen, Rewert (partially), Skillaerd, Skrins, Suderbuorren, Suorein, Tichelwurk, Truerd, Tsienzerbuorren, Tsjaard, Tsjeintgum, Vierhuis, Vrouwbuurtstermolen (partially), Wammert and Wieuwens

ClimateEdit

Template:Weather box

DemographicsEdit

As of 2020, Leeuwarden had a total population of 124,084.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Inhabitants by originEdit

citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Numbers %
Dutch natives 102,099 82.2%
Western migration background 9,745 7.8%
Non-Western migration background 12,240 9.8%
Indonesia 2,276 1.83%
Netherlands Antilles and Aruba 1,589 1.28%
Suriname 1,483 1.19%
Morocco 1,081 0.87%
Turkey 547 0.4%
Total 124,084 100%

CultureEdit

MuseumsEdit

Museums in the city of Leeuwarden:

ArchitectureEdit

There are over 800 Rijksmonuments (national heritage sites) in the municipality of Leeuwarden.<ref>Monumentenregister Template:Webarchive, Official database of heritage sites 1 January 2018 . Retrieved on 1 March 2018.</ref> The Oldehove, a leaning unfinished church tower, is a symbol of the city. Other well-known buildings in the city centre include the Kanselarij (former chancellery), the Stadhouderlijk Hof (former residence of the stadtholders of Friesland), the city hall (1715), the Waag (old weigh house), the Saint Boniface church (an important part of the neogothic movement) and the Centraal Apotheek, a pharmacy in the Art Nouveau style. The Blokhuispoort is a former prison that has been transformed into a public library, hostel and restaurant.

The Froskepôlemolen (built in 1896), is the last surviving windmill to have stood in Leeuwarden. The remains of the Cammingha-Buurstermolen were demolished in 2000.<ref name=Friese>Template:Cite book</ref> The Slauerhoffbrug is a fully automatic bascule bridge named after the poet Jan Jacob Slauerhoff. It uses two arms to swing a section of road in and out of place within the road itself. This movable bridge is also known as the 'Flying' Drawbridge.

The tallest building in the city is the Template:Convert Achmeatoren (Achmea insurance tower), built in 2001 and designed by Abe Bonnema – who also designed the second-tallest building, Averotoren at Template:Convert.

Cultural events and festivalsEdit

On 6 September 2013 Leeuwarden was voted European Capital of Culture for the year 2018.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Many events were organised throughout the year.<ref>european-capital-of-culture Template:Webarchive. Retrieved on 1 March 2018.</ref><ref>LF2018 Template:Webarchive Retrieved on 1 March 2018</ref> The largest art project was the 11Fountains, fountains in the Frisian eleven cities. The Love Fountain, located in front of the train station, was designed by artist Jaume Plensa. The fountain is seven metres high and consists of two white heads of a boy and a girl, their eyes closed and dreaming.<ref>11fountains-Leeuwarden Retrieved 21 March 2018.</ref>

Annual music festivals are Cityrock, Dancetour, Welcome To The Village, Into the Grave, Explore the North<ref>Explore the North Template:Webarchive. Retrieved 7 March 2018.</ref> and Fries straatfestival. Other festivals are Noordelijk Film Festival (an event for film makers), photofestival Noorderlicht and the Media Art festival. Other events are Racing Expo and a large flower market (held on Ascension Day).<ref>Tourist information Leeuwarden Retrieved on 2 March 2018.</ref> There is also a weekly cattle market.<ref>Cattle market Leeuwarden Template:Webarchive. Retrieved on 2 March 2018.</ref>

TransportEdit

Leeuwarden railway station (opened on 27 October 1863) is the main railway station of Leeuwarden. It is a terminus station of the NS railway line from Zwolle. Regional trains, served by Arriva, operate to Groningen in the east, Harlingen in the west and Stavoren in the southwest.<ref>Actuele vertrektijden Station Leeuwarden Template:Webarchive (in Dutch), Nederlandse Spoorwegen. Retrieved 19 June 2016.</ref> The other stations in the municipality are Leeuwarden Camminghaburen, and Grou-Jirnsum. A fourth station Leeuwarden Werpsterhoeke was planned to be opened after 2018.<ref>Leeuwarden Werpsterhoeke Template:Webarchive (in Dutch), ProRail. Retrieved 19 June 2016.</ref>

Near the train station is the bus station. Arriva runs several city, regional and national buses.<ref>Arriva Dienstregeling Friesland Template:Webarchive (in Dutch), Arriva. Retrieved 8 March 2018.</ref> Route 66 Leeuwarden-Holwerd connects with the ferry to Ameland, bus route 50 to Lauwersoog connects with the departures of the ferry to Schiermonnikoog<ref>Wagenborg Passagiersdiensten public transportation Template:Webarchive Retrieved on 8 March 2018.</ref> and route 350 via the Afsluitdijk connects to Alkmaar in North Holland.

The motorway A31 passes Leeuwarden and the A32 connects Leeuwarden to Meppel. The Van Harinxmakanaal is a major canal and connects Harlingen to Leeuwarden.

EducationEdit

File:Stedelijk Gymnasium Leeuwarden.jpg
Stedelijk Gymnasium in 2007

Leeuwarden has a number of respected schools of applied science (HBO in Dutch), (21,480 students in 2017),<ref>HBO students Leeuwarden Template:Webarchive Retrieved 1 April 2018.</ref> such as the Van Hall Instituut (agricultural and life sciences) and the NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (hotel management, economical and media management).<ref>NHL Stenden University Template:Webarchive Retrieved 1 April 2018.</ref> In addition to higher education, the city is also home to three regional vocational schools (MBO): the Friese Poort, Friesland College, and Nordwin College.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Although the city has no university of its own, several satellite campuses are located here, including Campus Fryslân (University of Groningen),<ref>University of Groningen/Campus Fryslân Template:Webarchive Retrieved 1 April 2018.</ref> Dairy Campus (Wageningen University and Research)<ref>Dairy Campus Template:Webarchive. Retrieved 1 April 2018.</ref> and the Academie voor Popkultuur (Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen)

Technological Top Institute Wetsus does research into water-related technologies.<ref>Wetsus Template:Webarchive Retrieved 1 April 2018.</ref> Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW) is the knowledge and innovation centre for applied research and product development in the field of water technology<ref>CEW Leeuwarden Template:Webarchive Retrieved 1 April 2018.</ref> and the Wadden Academy to study and research the Wadden Sea.<ref>Wadden Academy Template:Webarchive Retrieved 1 April 2018.</ref>

EconomyEdit

Among the 10 largest employers in Leeuwarden are Medical Center Leeuwarden (MCL), ING, The Central Judicial Collection Agency (CJIB),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Achmea, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Leeuwarden Air Base and FrieslandCampina.<ref>Gemeentegids Leeuwarden 2011</ref> WTC Expo is the largest events complex in the Northern Netherlands.<ref>WTC Expo Template:Webarchive Retrieved 3 April 2018.</ref>

SportsEdit

The city's local football team, SC Cambuur, are playing in the second tier Eerste Divisie. Their home ground is the Cambuurstadion, which has a capacity of 10,500. The city's basketball team, Aris Leeuwarden, has played in the Dutch Basketball League since 2004.

The Elfstedenhal is a sport venue. The stadium is used for long track speed skating, short track speed skating, ice hockey, figure skating and curling.<ref>Elfstedenhal Template:Webarchive Retrieved on 3 March 2018.</ref> The 400m indoor speed skating oval is named after speed skater Atje Keulen-Deelstra. The ice hockey club is IJshockeyclub Capitals Leeuwarden (IJCCL).<ref>capitalsleeuwarden ice hockey club. Retrieved on 3 March 2018.</ref>

Leeuwarden is the starting and finishing point for the celebrated {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, a Template:Convert speed skating race over the Frisian waterways that is held when winter conditions in the province allow. Template:As of it last took place in January 1997, preceded by the races of 1986 and 1985. In 1986, the Dutch king Willem-Alexander participated in the Eleven cities tour, with the pseudonym W.A. van Buren, which is the pseudonym of the royal family of the Netherlands.

Loop Leeuwarden<ref>Loop Leeuwarden Template:Webarchive. Retrieved on 2 March 2018.</ref> is an annual road running competition (5 km, 10 km and half marathon races). The race was first held in 1985 and takes place in May. It attracts amateur runners. The city of Leeuwarden has two sailing boats (skûtsje) racing in the yearly sailing competition Skûtsjesilen.

Leeuwarden was to be the host of the World Flying Disc Federation 2020 World Ultimate and Guts Championships from the 11th to the 18th of July. The event was expected to have over 2500 athletes from 40 countries.<ref>WFDF 2020 World Ultimate and Guts Championships Template:Webarchive, World Flying Disc Federation. Retrieved on 21 May 2019.</ref> The event was cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic).

MediaEdit

The Leeuwarder Courant<ref>Template:In lang LC Template:Webarchive Leeuwarder Courant. Retrieved on 6 March 2018.</ref> and Friesch Dagblad<ref>Template:In lang Friesch Dagblad Template:Webarchive, Friesch Dagblad. Retrieved on 6 March 2018.</ref> are daily newspapers mainly written in Dutch (published by the NDC Mediagroep). Omrop Fryslân is a public broadcaster with radio and TV programs mainly in Frisian.<ref>Template:In lang Omrop Fryslan Template:Webarchive, Omrop Fryslân. Retrieved on 6 March 2018.</ref>

Notable residentsEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

File:Mata Hari 13.jpg
Mata Hari, 1906

PoliticsEdit

In the Netherlands, a municipality is governed by the college of mayor and aldermen and the municipal council. Sybrand van Haersma Buma of the CDA has been mayor of Leeuwarden since 26 August 2019.<ref name="mayor_now"/> Since the 2014 municipal elections, the Labour Party (3 aldermen), Christian Democratic Appeal (2 aldermen), PAL GroenLinks (1 alderman) form a coalition.<ref>Gemeente Leeuwarden (Friesland) Template:Webarchive (in Dutch), Overheid in Friesland. Retrieved 19 June 2016.</ref> The municipal council of Leeuwarden has 39 seats.<ref>Gemeenteraadsleden en ondersteuning Template:Webarchive (in Dutch), Municipality of Leeuwarden. Retrieved 19 June 2016.</ref>

As provincial capital, Leeuwarden is also the seat of the King's Commissioner Arno Brok and the Provincial Council of Friesland.

International relationsEdit

Template:See also

The city of Leeuwarden is twinned with

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

BibliographyEdit

Template:Refbegin

Template:Refend

External linksEdit

Template:Sister project links Template:Portal

Template:Geographic location

Template:Dutch municipality Leeuwarden Template:Dutch capital cities Template:European Capital of Culture {{#invoke:Navbox|navbox}} Template:Frisian cities

Template:Authority control