Photos from Our World

• FryslÂn - Friesland
• Leeuwarden - Ljouwert
• Franeker - Frjentsjer
• Harlingen - Harns
• Northern Friesland
• Central Friesland

• Western Friesland
• South Western Friesland
• Wadden Islands
• Traditions and Folkore
• Visserijdagen
• Frisian Flags

Winter in Friesland

Being in a temperate, humid and often windy part of Europe, winters are noy often pleasant, with short days and long, cold nights. But, being the festive season, much social and family life goes on indoors.

However, when there is snow and this is followed by clear sunny skies, the city acquires a quiet beauty; children enjoy riding their sleighs, making snowmen and having snowball fights. And if it keeps freezing, young and old may put on their skates to ride on the many canals that link every part of the city.

And if it really keeps freezing, the main event on the Frisian calendar may take place: the "Elfstedentocht" (Eleven cities Tour), a skating marathon of 200 km around all of the eleven Frisian cities, starting and finishing in the provincial capital Leeuwarden (or Ljouwert, in Frisian) and leading along canals, rivers and across lakes. This is a top event, televised nationally; the participants are received in each town with brass bands standing on the ice, hot drinks and loud cheers from an enthusiastic audience. Unfortunately global warming is making the event quite rare nowadays.

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