Bolsward

Bolsward Boalsert
City and former municipality
City Hall
Flag Coat of arms
Coordinates:
Country	Netherlands
Province	Friesland
Municipality	Súdwest-Fryslân
Area(2006)
• Total	9.42 km2 (3.64 sq mi)
• Land	9.11 km2 (3.52 sq mi)
• Water	0.31 km2 (0.12 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2007)
• Total	9,607
• Density	1,055/km2 (2,730/sq mi)
	Source: CBS, Statline.
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Bolsward [ˈbɔɫsʋɑrt] (<phonos file="443 Bolsward.ogg">pronunciation</phonos>, West Frisian: Boalsert) is a city in Súdwest Fryslân in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. Bolsward has a population of just under 10,000. It is located 10 km W.N.W. of Sneek.

History

The town is founded on three artificial dwelling hills, the first of which was built some time before Christ. Bolsward was a trading city with a port in the Middle Ages. The middlesea connected the port to the North Sea, but this connection was lost when the middlesea was reclaimed from the sea; a canal was then cut to the Zuider Zee. The town is mentioned in 725, when it was situated on the middlesea.

As a trading city, Bolsward was granted city rights by Philip the Good in 1455. Bolsward was made a member of the Hanseatic league in 1422. It was the center of the former municipality named Bolsward, before that was merged into Súdwest Fryslân.

Notable historical figures

Notable historical figures born here include:

• Juw Juwinga or Jonghema (14th century), 11th potestate of Friesland
• Petrus Thaborita (1450–1527), historian
• Boetius Adamsz Bolswert (c.1580-1633), engraver
• Schelderic Adamsz Bolswert (c.1586-1659), engraver
• Gysbert Japiks (1603–1666), poet
• Frederick Philipse (1626–1702), American progenitor and founder
• Willem Muurling (1805–1882), theologian
• Titus Brandsma (1881–1942), Carmelite philosopher

Events

Heamiel. A local festival of four days in June. This is an old traditional festival to celebrate that the farmers have harvested the hay from the fields. The name of the festival, Heamiel, is frisian for 'Hay meal', and is derived from the traditional banquet.

Bolletongersdei. Bolletongersdei is frisian for 'bulls Thursday'. Bolletongersdei includes a street market. Bolletongersdei is held on the first Thursday of October.

Simmerwike. A music festival of 4 evenings with performances, held in August.

Elfstedentocht

Bolsward is one of the eleven Frisian cities in which the ice skating Elfstedentocht, an ice skating marathon, is held. Because the marathon depends on the thickness of the ice, it is not held on a regular schedule and can be somewhat rare.

Bolsward is also the host city for the yearly Cycling Elfstedentocht, an road bicycle racing tour.

Notable buildings

• Protestant church of Bolsward

External links

• Official website