A ''grietenij'' was a forerunner to the ''

gemeente As of 24 March 2022, there are 344 municipalities ( nl, gemeenten) and three Caribbean Netherlands, special municipalities () in the Netherlands. The latter is the status of three of the six island territories that make up the Dutch Caribbean. ...

'' or

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

Frisia Frisia is a cross-border cultural region in Northwestern Europe. Stretching along the Wadden Sea, it encompasses the north of the Netherlands and parts of northwestern Germany. The region is traditionally inhabited by the Frisians, a West Ger ...

, particularly in

Friesland Friesland (, ; official fry, Fryslân ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia, is a province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen, northwest of Drenthe and Overijssel, north of ...

, and also in

Groningen Groningen (; gos, Grunn or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands. The ''capital of the north'', Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of the northern part of t ...

which are now a part of the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. From the end of the 16th century until 1851, there were a total of 30 ''grietenijen'' in Friesland. The term ''grietenij'' means the administrative district of a ''

grietman A grietman (from Old Frisian ''greta'' to accuse, to summon) is partly a forerunner of the current rural mayor in the province of Friesland, and partly the forerunner of a judge. The area of jurisdiction was the municipality or gemeente. In the ...

''. The term ''grietman'' means a man who greets. The ''grietenijen'' were found in the counties of

Oostergo Eastergoa (also Ostergau, Ostergo, or Oostergo) was one of the seven areas and one of the three '' Gaue'' within what is today the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. Area On its west side Eastergoa was bordered by the Middelsee with ...

Westergo Westergoa was one of the seven sealands and one of the three that now lie within the borders of today's Dutch province of Friesland. Later it was one of the three goaen of Frisia. In the Middle Ages Westergoa most probably formed the political c ...

and Zevenwouden. In the municipality law in 1851, the term ''grietenij'' was changed to gemeente or municipality, and the term ''grietman'' was changed to ''burgemeester'' or mayor. This resulted in consistent terms being used throughout the Netherlands.

List of ''grietenijen''

The list contains the names of the thirty ''grietenijen'' from the 18th century. * Achtkarspelen *

Aengwirden Aengwirden is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Friesland. It covered the area around the village of Tjalleberd. It existed until July 1, 1934. The area of the former municipality is now a part of the municipality of Heerenveen Hee ...

Baarderadeel Baarderadeel is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Friesland, southwest of Leeuwarden. Since 1984, the area has been a part of the municipality of Littenseradiel. Some of the larger villages in Baarderadeel are Winsum Winsum () is ...

Barradeel Barradeel is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Friesland. It was located north of Harlingen and Franeker, and is now largely a part of Franekeradeel. The municipality existed until 1984. The municipality included the villages of Fi ...

Dantumadeel Dantumadiel () is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. Dantumadiel is a rural municipality characterized by economic activity and agriculture. History The first time Dantumadiel is mentioned was in a document from 12 ...

Doniawerstal Doniawerstal was a municipality in southwest Friesland, south of Sneek. It consisted mainly of grassland and lakes. Its capital was Langweer. The municipality was dissolved in 1984; part went to Wymbritseradiel and part went to Skarsterlân Skarst ...

* Ferwerderadeel *

Franekeradeel Franekeradeel (; fry, Frentsjerteradiel) is a former municipality in the northern Netherlands. It was created in 1984 by combining an earlier Franekeradeel municipality with the city of Franeker and parts of the former municipality of Barradeel. ...

* Gaasterland * Haskerland * Hemelumer Oldephaert and Noordwolde (later: Hemelumer Oldeferd) *

Hennaarderadeel Hennaarderadeel is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Friesland, southwest of Leeuwarden. Since 1984, the area has been a part of the municipality of Littenseradiel Littenseradiel () is a former municipality in the northern Netherlands, ...

Het Bildt Het or HET may refer to: Science and technology * Hall-effect thruster, a type of ion thruster used for spacecraft propulsion * Heavy Equipment Transporter, a vehicle in the US Army's Heavy Equipment Transport System * Hobby–Eberly Telescope, a ...

* Idaarderadeel *

Kollumerland Kollumerland en Nieuwkruisland (; fy, en Nijkrúslân), officially abbreviated as Kollumerland c.a., is a municipality in the northern Netherlands, located in the province of Friesland. In 2019 it merged with the municipalities of Dongeradeel an ...

and Nieuwkruisland *

Leeuwarderadeel Leeuwarderadeel (; fy, Ljouwerteradiel) is a former municipality in the northern Netherlands. Its capital was Stiens. History On 1 January 2018 it merged with the municipality of Leeuwarden. Population centres * Bartlehiem * Britsum * Cornjum ...

Lemsterland Lemsterland (; fy, Lemsterlân) is a former municipality in the northern Netherlands. In 2014 it merged with the municipalities of Skarsterlân and Gaasterlân-Sleat to form the new municipality De Fryske Marren De Fryske Marren ( nl, De Friese ...

Menaldumadeel Menameradiel (; nl, Menaldumadeel ) is a former municipality in Friesland, Netherlands. On 1 January 2018 it merged with the municipalities of Franekeradeel, het Bildt and parts of Littenseradiel to form the new municipality Waadhoeke. Populat ...

* Oost-Dongeradeel *

Opsterland Opsterland (; fry, Opsterlân) is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. Population centres Drachten-Azeven is an industrial zone of Drachten located in Opsterland. Hamlets The hamlets within the municipality are: ...

Rauwerderhem Rauwerderhem is a former municipality in the province of Friesland. It existed until 1984. Rauwerderhem is now named Boarnsterhim (City: Irnsum Jirnsum ( nl, Irnsum) is a village in Leeuwarden municipality in the province of Friesland, the Nethe ...

* Schoterland *

Smallingerland Smallingerland (; fy, ) is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. Population centres Boornbergum, De Tike, De Veenhoop, De Wilgen, Drachten (main town), Drachtstercompagnie, Goëngahu ...

* Stellingwerf-Oosteinde (later:

Ooststellingwerf Ooststellingwerf (; Stellingwarfs: ) is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands. It is one of the municipalities of Friesland where the spoken language is not West Frisian; instead, Stellingwerfs, a dialect of Dutc ...

) * Stellingwerf-Westeinde (later:

Weststellingwerf Weststellingwerf (; Stellingwarfs: or ) is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands. It is one of the municipalities of Friesland, where the spoken language is not West Frisian; instead, Stellingwerfs, a dialect of ...

) *

Tietjerksteradeel Tytsjerksteradiel () is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. It is named after the town of Tytsjerk, whose name is derived from a person named Tiete. Tiete was a daughter of Tryn, after whom the region (Trynwâlden) is n ...

* Utingeradeel * West-Dongeradeel * Wonseradeel *

Wymbritseradeel Wymbritseradeel (; official fry, Wymbritseradiel ()) was a rural municipality ( nl, gemeenten) in the Dutch province of Friesland from 1984 until 2011. An earlier type of municipality ( nl, grietenij) of the same name existed from 1500 until 198 ...

References

{{Reflist History of Friesland Types of administrative division