Editing Franeker

{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Franeker
| native_name             = {{Native name|fy|Frjentsjer}}
| native_name_lang        = 
| settlement_type         = [[City]]
| image_skyline           = Franeker, het stadhuis RM15724 en het Planetarium RM15668 foto4 2017-06-18 11.19.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = The former [[Franeker City Hall|city hall]] (left) and the [[Eise Eisinga Planetarium]] (right)
| image_flag              = Flag of Franeker.svg
| image_shield            = Franeker wapen.svg
| etymology               = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = {{Native name|nl|Ster van de Elfsteden}}<br />(''Star of the [[Elfstedentocht|Eleven Cities]]'')
| image_map               = LocatieFraneker.png
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Location in the former municipality of [[Franekeradeel]] in [[Friesland]] in the [[Netherlands]]
| image_map1              = Map NL Frjentsjerteradiel Frjenstjer.png
| map_alt1                =
| map_caption1            = Location in the former municipality of [[Franekeradeel]]
| pushpin_map             = Netherlands Friesland#Netherlands#Europe
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location within the Netherlands##Location within Europe
| pushpin_relief          = 1
| coordinates             = {{coord|53|11|N|5|32|E|region:NR-FR|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint           = 
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Friesland]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Waadhoeke]]
| established_title       = 
| established_date        = 
| founder                 = 
| seat_type               = 
| seat                    = 
| government_footnotes    = 
| leader_party            = 
| leader_title            = 
| leader_name             = 
| unit_pref               = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="stat"/>
| area_total_km2          = 18.17
| area_land_km2           = 17.42
| area_water_km2          = 0.75
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web 
 |url = https://www.ahn.nl/ahn-viewer
 |title = AHN Viewer
 |language = nl
 |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> 
 |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland
 |date = 24 July 2019
 |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis
 |access-date = 7 November 2024}}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 1.1
| population_as_of        = 2021
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="stat">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/maatwerk/2024/11/kerncijfers-wijken-en-buurten-2023 |title=Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2023 |trans-title=Key figures for districts and neighbourhoods 2023 |website=[[Statistics Netherlands]] |date=14 March 2024 |access-date=7 November 2024}}</ref>
| population_total        = 13,015
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_note         = 
| population_demonym      = 
| timezone1               = 
| utc_offset1             = 
| timezone1_DST           = 
| utc_offset1_DST         = 
| timezone                = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset              = +1
| timezone_DST            = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[List of postal codes in the Netherlands|Postal code]]
| postal_code             = 8801, 8802<ref name="stat"/>
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Dialing code]]
| area_code               = 0517
| iso_code                = 
| footnotes               = 
| website                 = {{URL|https://www.franeker.frl/}}
}}

'''Franeker''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈfraːnəkər|-|Nl-Franeker.ogg}}; {{langx|fy|Frjentsjer}} {{IPA|fy|ˈfrjɛntsjər||}}) is one of the eleven historical [[City rights in the Low Countries|cities]] of [[Friesland]] and capital of the municipality of [[Waadhoeke]]. It is located north of the [[Van Harinxmakanaal]] and about {{cvt|20|km|0}} west of [[Leeuwarden]]. As of 2023, it had 13,015 inhabitants.<ref name="stat"/> [[World Heritage Site]] the [[Eise Eisinga Planetarium]], established in 1781, is located in the city.

==History==
===Early history===
Franeker was founded around 800 as a [[Carolingian]] stronghold. The name probably derives from ''Froon-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 northern [[Westergoa]].<ref name="geschiedenis">{{Cite web |url=https://www.franeker.frl/verhalen/geschiedenis-van-franeker/ |title=Geschiedenis van Franeker |trans-title=History of Franeker |website=Franeker.frl |access-date=7 November 2024 |language=nl}}</ref>

Franeker received [[City rights in the Netherlands|city rights]] in 1417,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/sten009monu06_01/sten009monu06_01_0061.php |title=Monumenten in Nederland. Fryslân. |trans-title=Monuments in the Netherlands. Friesland. |last1=Broekhoven |first1=Sabine |last2=Ginkel-Meester |first2=Saskia |last3=Kolman van |first3=Chris |last4=Kuiper |first4=Yme |last5=Stenvert |first5=Ronald |publisher=Waanders Uitgevers |location=Zwolle |year=2000 |isbn=90-400-9476-4 |language=nl |page=131}}</ref> when it was recognised as an independent city and, through the {{lang|nl|Buurbrief}} ('Citizen's letter'), formally separated from the [[grietenij]] {{ill|Franekeradeel (before 1984)|lt=Franekeradeel|nl|Franekeradeel (voor 1984)}}.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wm_TAAAAMAAJ&q=stadsrechten+franeker |title=De Friesche stadrechten |trans-title=The Frisian city rights |series=Werken der Vereeniging tot Uitgaaf der Bronnen van het Oud- Vaderlandsche Recht |volume=5 |last=Telting |first=A. |year=1883 |publisher=M. Nijhoff |location=The Hague |language=nl}}</ref>

===Saxon period===
[[File:Beleg van Franeker, 1500 Het belech van Franeker (titel op object), RP-P-1905-5709.jpg|left|thumb|The Siege of Franeker ([[Pieter Feddes van Harlingen]], {{circa|1620}})]]
At the end of the 15th century, [[Albert III, Duke of Saxony|Albert, Duke of Saxony]] established himself in Franeker, when he had taken over Friesland with the help of the [[Schieringers]] led by {{ill|Hessel van Martena|nl}}. On 12 May 1500, the city was besieged by an army of 16,000 dissatisfied Frisians during the {{ill|Siege of Franeker|nl|Beleg van Franeker}}, as a result of the high rents and taxes levied by Albert and his sons [[Henry IV, Duke of Saxony|Henry]] and [[George, Duke of Saxony|George 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 (200 [[morgen]]) piece of [[salt marsh]]land outside the dike, called the Franekerlanden. Three years later, Henry handed over the government of Friesland to his brother George.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tresoar.nl/vertellen/verhalen/60e305a646159169fdd39d1f |title=Friese vrijheid bij Franeker begraven |trans-title=Frisian freedom buried near Franeker |website=[[Tresoar]] |date=5 July 2021 |access-date=7 November 2024 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |chapter-url=https://pure.knaw.nl/ws/files/482636/Hessel_van_Martena.pdf |title=Schieringer Fortuin – Hessel van Martena en het Martenahuis te Franeker |chapter=Hessel van Martena. Verrader van de Friese Vrijheid of voorvechter van een nieuwe orde? |trans-chapter=Hessel van Martena. Traitor to Frisian Freedom or champion of a new order? |last=Gerrits |first=Matthijs |year=2009 |publisher=Friese Pers Boekerij |location=Leeuwarden |language=nl |pages=21–23 |isbn=9789033008115}}</ref>

Franeker seemed to become the capital of Friesland at the end of the 15th century. In 1504, however, the Saxons fled to [[Leeuwarden]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://toenentoen.nl/friesland/worp/1504-3.html |title=Het jaar 1504 |trans-title=The year 1504 |website=Toen en Toen |access-date=7 November 2024 |language=nl}}</ref> After that, the city remained important to the [[Duchy of Saxony|Saxons]] for a long time, until Friesland was transferred as a possession to [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] in 1524.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.historischnieuwsblad.nl/vader-van-de-nederlanden/ |title=Viglius van Aytta: Vader van de Nederlanden |trans-title=Viglius van Aytta: Father of the Netherlands |work=Historisch Nieuwsblad |last=Dunk |first=Thomas von der |date=27 September 2022 |access-date=7 November 2024 |language=nl |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

===University of Franeker===
{{Main|University of Franeker}}
[[File:Franeker, de academia van Vrieslant.png|left|thumb|The University of Franeker ([[Pieter Feddes van Harlingen]], 1622)]]
When the [[Dutch Republic]] revolted against the [[Spanish Empire]], Franeker chose the side of [[William the Silent|William of Orange]] early on. In 1579, Friesland joined the [[Union of Utrecht]] in the joint fight against Spain. In 1580, the [[States of Friesland]] decided that only the [[Reformed Christianity|Reformed doctrine]] was permitted. In order to meet a growing demand for ministers, lawyers, and doctors, the States decided to found a university.<ref name="academie">{{Cite web |url=https://www.academiefraneker.nl/over-ons/geschiedenis-academie/ |title=Geschiedenis van de Academie |trans-title=History of the Academy |website=Academie van Franeker |access-date=12 November 2024 |language=nl}}</ref>

As such, a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] university, the [[University of Franeker]], the oldest in the Netherlands after the [[University of Leiden]], was established on 29 July 1585.<ref name="geschiedenis"/> The university was housed in the former monastery building of the [[Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross|Crosiers]]. At this Academy of Friesland, donated by the Frisian [[stadtholder]] [[William Louis, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg|William Louis]], one could study theology, law, medicine, classical languages, philosophy, mathematics, and physics.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=De universiteit van Friesland |trans-title=The university of Friesland |last=Maas Geesteranus |first=A.M. |journal=De Tijdspiegel |volume=37 |year=1880 |page=28 |url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_tij008188001_01/_tij008188001_01_0072.php |language=nl}}</ref> Some notable students include [[William IV, Prince of Orange]], [[Peter Stuyvesant]], [[René Descartes]], and [[Eise Eisinga]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://historiek.net/stadhouder-willem-iv-oranje-nassau-erfstadhouder/56409/ |title=Stadhouder Willem IV van Oranje-Nassau (1711-1751) |trans-title=Stadtholder William IV of Orange-Nassau (1711–1751) |work=Historiek |last=Visser |first=Lilian |date=24 May 2018 |access-date=12 November 2024 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://historiek.net/peter-stuyvesant-gouverneur-nieuw-nederland/137214/ |title=Peter Stuyvesant – Gouverneur-generaal van Nieuw-Nederland |trans-title=Peter Stuyvesant – Governor-general of New Netherland |work=Historiek |last=Koops |first=Enne |date=24 September 2024 |access-date=12 November 2024 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tresoar.nl/vertellen/verhalen/60b4e345182eae1746bb581b |title=Descartes in Friesland |website=[[Tresoar]] |date=31 May 2021 |access-date=12 November 2024 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://historiek.net/eise-eisinga-bouwer-oudste-planetarium/57907/ |title=Eise Eisinga, bouwer van het oudste planetarium |trans-title=Eise Eisinga, builder of the oldest planetarium |work=Historiek |last=Visser |first=Lilian |date=5 April 2023 |access-date=12 November 2024 |language=nl}}</ref> It was closed shortly after the incorporation of the [[Kingdom of Holland]] into the [[First French Empire|French Empire]], when [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] closed the academy in 1811. A successor institution, the {{lang|nl|Rijksatheneum}}, was founded in 1815, but in 1847 it, too, closed.<ref name="geschiedenis"/>

===Recent history===
In 1984, the municipalities of Franeker and {{ill|Franekeradeel (before 1984)|lt=Franekeradeel|nl|Franekeradeel (voor 1984)}}, as well as part of the municipality of [[Barradeel]], were merged into the new municipality of [[Franekeradeel]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://gemeentegeschiedenis.nl/gemeentenaam/Franekeradeel |title=Franekeradeel |website=Gemeentegeschiedenis |access-date=12 November 2024 |language=nl}}</ref> 

On 1 January 2018, Franeker became the main town of the newly formed municipality of [[Waadhoeke]]. The town hall is located on the Harlingerstraatweg in Franeker.

== Geography ==
[[File:Franeker-OpenTopo 2021.jpg|thumb|Map of the city of Franeker (2021)]]
Franeker is located in the municipality of [[Waadhoeke]] in the northwest of the province of [[Friesland]] in the north of the [[Netherlands]]. It is east of the city of [[Harlingen, Friesland|Harlingen]], north of the [[Van Harinxmakanaal]], south of the [[Wadden Sea]] coast, and about {{convert|20|km|0|abbr=on}} west of the provincial capital [[Leeuwarden]].

== Demographics ==
As of 2023, the city of Franeker had a population of 13,015.<ref name="stat"/>

==Culture==
=== Museums ===
[[File:2011-07 Franeker Planetarium.jpg|thumb|The [[Eise Eisinga Planetarium]] (right) and adjacent bar in 2011]]
The [[Eise Eisinga Planetarium]] and the [[Museum Martena]] are museums located in the city. The Planetarium is an [[orrery]] built between 1774 and 1781 by the local wool carder [[Eise Eisinga]] to explain a [[Conjunction (astronomy and astrology)|conjunction]] 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 a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1683 |title=Eisinga Planetarium in Franeker |website=UNESCO World Heritage Convention |access-date=12 November 2024}}</ref>

Museum Martena, opened in 2006, is housed in the [[Martenahuis]]. This old {{lang|nl|[[stins]]}} was built in 1502 by order of {{ill|Hessel van Martena|nl}} and was the residence of [[Campegius Vitringa]] and [[Anna Maria van Schurman]] in the second half of the 17th century. The museum is devoted to the history of the city and the region.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.stinseninfriesland.nl/MartenaHuis.htm |title=Martenahuis |website=Stinzen in Friesland |access-date=12 November 2024 |language=nl}}</ref>

===Windmill===
The windmill ''[[Arkens, Franeker|Arkens]]'' is a [[post mill#Hollow Post mill|hollow post mill]] which has been restored. It originally stood in [[Arkens]] and was moved in 1972. It is the only windmill in the Netherlands equipped with ''Vlinderwieken'' ({{langx|en|Butterfly sails}}).<ref name=Data>{{cite web|url=http://www.molendatabase.nl/nederland/molen.php?nummer=69 |title=Franeker, Friesland |website=Molendatabase |language=nl |access-date=18 February 2010}}</ref>

== Sports ==
[[File:Kaatsen Franeker.JPG|thumb|Frisian handball on the {{lang|fy|{{ill|Sjûkelân|nl||fy}}}} the former location of the [[Sjaerdemaslot]]]]
Since 1852, Franeker has been the home of the {{Interlanguage link multi|PC (Frisian handball)|nl|3=PC (kaatsen)|lt=PC}}, the most important tournament in [[Frisian handball]].

Franeker is a regular host of the [[Frisian draughts]] competitions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://frisiandraughts.com/ |title=Frisian Draughts, a special version of draughts |website=World championship Frisian Draughts |access-date=12 November 2024}}</ref>

Being one of the Frisian cities, Franeker is also on the route of the {{convert|200|km|mi}} ''[[Elfstedentocht]]'' (Eleven-cities Tour), an endurance skating event held at irregular intervals depending on weather conditions.

==Infrastructure==
[[File:Franeker, Camminghastins en Martinikerk.jpg|thumb|upright|The {{lang|fy|Camminghahûs}} (built around 1400) and the Martinichurch]]
[[Franeker railway station]] is a station on the [[Nederlandse Spoorwegen|NS]] line between [[Leeuwarden]] and [[Harlingen, Netherlands|Harlingen]]. It also had a station on the [[North Friesland Railway]] which was the terminus of a branch from [[Tzummarum]]. The line opened in October 1903 and closed in October 1933. The station building survives.

==Notable people==
*[[Johan Sems]] (1572–1635), cartographer, engineer and land surveyor
*[[Anna Maria van Schurman]] (1607–1678), painter, engraver, poet, classical scholar, philosopher, and feminist
*[[Ulrik Huber]] (1636–1694), professor of law at the [[University of Franeker]] and political philosopher
*[[François Hemsterhuis]] (1721–1790), writer on aesthetics and moral philosophy
*[[Eise Eisinga]] (1744–1828), amateur astronomer who built the [[Eise Eisinga Planetarium]] in his house 
*[[Sebald Justinus Brugmans]] (1763–1819), botanist and physician
*[[Jan Oort|Jan Hendrik Oort]] (1900–1992), astronomer, studied the [[Milky Way]]
*[[Rolf Bremmer]] (born 1950), scholar of Old Frisian, and Old and Medieval English
*[[Pia Dijkstra]] (born 1954), politician and former news presenter 
*[[Dennis Wiersma]] (born 1986), former politician

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Franeker |short=x}}
*{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Franeker |short=x}}

{{Frisian cities}}
{{Dutch municipality Waadhoeke}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Franeker| ]]
[[Category:Waadhoeke]]
[[Category:Cities in Friesland]]
[[Category:Cities in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Populated places in Friesland]]
[[Category:Former municipalities of Friesland]]