Heerenveen (, ) is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

and

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

in the

province A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

Friesland Friesland ( ; ; official ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia (), named after the Frisians, is a Provinces of the Netherlands, province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen (p ...

(Fryslân), in the Northern

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

. In 2021, the town had a population of 29,790 (1 January) while the municipality had a population 50,859 (1 July).

History

The town was established in 1551 by three lords as a location to dig

peat Peat is an accumulation of partially Decomposition, decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, Moorland, moors, or muskegs. ''Sphagnum'' moss, also called peat moss, is one of the most ...

which was used for fuel, hence the name (''heer'' is "lord", ''veen'' is "peat"). Heerenveen was not one of the traditional eleven cities in

(Fryslân) as it did not have so-called

city rights Town privileges or borough rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium. The city law customary in Central Europe probably dates back to Italian models, which in turn were oriented towards the tradition ...

. However, it is now one of the larger municipalities of the province. The

windmill A windmill is a machine operated by the force of wind acting on vanes or sails to mill grain (gristmills), pump water, generate electricity, or drive other machinery. Windmills were used throughout the high medieval and early modern period ...

''Welgelegen'' or ''Tjepkema's Molen'' is the only survivor of seventeen which have stood in Heerenveen.

Population centres

Population as of 1 January 2018: Heerenveen (32,900), Akkrum (3406), Aldeboarn (1479), Bontebok (445), De Knipe (1470),

Gersloot Gersloot () is a village in Heerenveen in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Carib ...

(280, together with Gersloot-Polder),

Hoornsterzwaag Hoornsterzwaag () is a small village in Heerenveen in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories ...

(815),

Jubbega Jubbega () is a village in the north of the Netherlands, located in the municipality of Heerenveen, Friesland. In 2021, it had a population of 3,255, mai History 15th–18th century The village was first mentioned in 1408 as Jobbegae, and means ...

(3510),

Katlijk Katlijk ( West Frisian: ''Ketlik'') is a village in Heerenveen in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas ...

(630),

Luinjeberd Luinjeberd () is a village in the Heerenveen municipality in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas terr ...

(450),

Mildam Mildam () is a village in Heerenveen in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. It had a population of around 685 in January 2017. Louis Le Roy's "eco-cathedral" is located here. There is a windmill in the village, De Tjongermolen. History ...

(740), Nes (1104), Nieuwebrug (210),

Nieuwehorne Nieuwehorne () is a village in Heerenveen in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. It had a population of around 1,450 in January 2017. History The village was first mentioned in 1315 as Hoerne cum duabus capellis, and means "the new corner ...

(1500), Nieuweschoot (180), Oranjewoud (1610), Oudehorne (840), Oudeschoot (1480), Terband (265) and Tjalleberd (800).

Hamlets

The hamlets are: Anneburen, Birstum, Brongergea, Easterboarn, Jinshuzen, Meskenwier, Oude Schouw (partially), Pean, Poppenhúzen, Schurega, Soarremoarre, Spitsendijk, Sythuzen, Warniahúzen en Welgelegen (partially). Heerenveen-plaats-OpenTopo.jpg, Map of the city of Heerenveen (2014) Gem-Heerenveen-OpenTopo.jpg, Map of the municipality of Heerenveen

Museums

* Museum Belvédère,

modern art Modern art includes artistic work produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the styles and philosophies of the art produced during that era. The term is usually associated with art in which the tradit ...

and

contemporary art Contemporary art is a term used to describe the art of today, generally referring to art produced from the 1970s onwards. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a ...

* Museum Heerenveen, local history and culture

Transport

Railway station:

Heerenveen Heerenveen (, ) is a town and Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Friesland (Fryslân), in the Northern Netherlands. In 2021, the town had a population of 29,790 (1 January) while the m ...

Local government

The Heerenveen municipal council consists of 31 seats, which at the 2022 municipal elections divided as follows: * Labour Party – 7 seats *

VVD The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy ( , VVD) is a conservative-liberal political party in the Netherlands. The VVD, whose forerunner was the Freedom Party, is a party of the centre-right that tries to promote private enterprise and ...

– 4 seats *

Frisian National Party The Frisian National Party (; , FNP) is a Frisian nationalist political party in the Netherlands. The FNP is mostly involved in Frisian politics. The Independent Senate Group represents the FNP on a national level, the EFA represents the FNP ...

– 3 seats * Heerenveen Lokaal – 3 seats * Green Left – 3 seats * CDA – 3 seats * D66 – 3 seats *

Socialist Party Socialist Party is the name of many different political parties around the world. All of these parties claim to uphold some form of socialism, though they may have very different interpretations of what "socialism" means. Statistically, most of th ...

– 2 seats * Local Interest (''GemeenteBelangen'') – 2 seats *

ChristianUnion The Christian Union ( ; CU) is a Christian democratic political party in the Netherlands. The CU is a centrist party, maintaining more progressive stances on economic, immigration and environmental issues while holding more socially conservative ...

– 1 seat

Sports

Heerenveen is notable for its world class sports facilities. These include the Abe Lenstra football stadium and the

Thialf Thialf () is an ice arena in Heerenveen, Netherlands. Thialf is used for long track speed skating, short track speed skating, ice hockey, figure skating, ice speedway, and non-sporting events. The outdoor rink was opened in 1967, and the indoo ...

speed skating Speed skating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in travelling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long-track speed skating, short-track speed skating, and marathon speed skat ...

arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

which was one of the first indoor 400m ice rinks in the world, and where international events draw large crowds. Thialf is also home to the city's ice hockey team, the

Heerenveen Flyers The UNIS Flyers are a professional ice hockey club located in Heerenveen, Netherlands. The team competes in the BeNe League and also takes part in the Dutch Cup. Home games are played in the ice hockey arena which forms part of the Thialf co ...

. In 2006, the "Sportstad" (Sport City) project was completed, which included a gymnastics hall, swimming pool and an extension to the football stadium, all clustered together. The Abe Lenstra stadium is unusual because its capacity is larger than the number of inhabitants of the town. One of the few football venues to shares this distinction is

Stade Félix Bollaert The Stade Bollaert-Delelis () is the main football stadium in Lens, France, that was built in 1933. It is the home of RC Lens. The stadium's capacity is 38,223 – about 7,000 more than the city's population. The stadium was originally named af ...

Lens A lens is a transmissive optical device that focuses or disperses a light beam by means of refraction. A simple lens consists of a single piece of transparent material, while a compound lens consists of several simple lenses (''elements'') ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. The town's

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

team,

SC Heerenveen Sportclub Heerenveen (; West Frisian language, West Frisian: Sportklub It Hearrenfean) is a Dutch professional association football, football club from Heerenveen. They currently play in the Eredivisie, the top level of football in the Netherla ...

, plays in the first-tier

Eredivisie The Eredivisie (; "Honour Division" or "Premier Division") is a professional association football league in the Netherlands and the highest level of the Dutch football league system. The league was founded in 1956, two years after the start o ...

, topped by the team's biggest achievement when they qualified for the

UEFA Champions League The UEFA Champions League (UCL) is an annual club association football competition organised by the UEFA, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) that is contested by List of top-division football clubs in UEFA countries, top-divisio ...

in 2000.

Notable residents

Wilhelm Heinrich, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach Wilhelm Heinrich, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach (10 November 1691 – 26 July 1741), was a duke of Saxe-Eisenach. He was born in Oranjewoud, the eldest and only surviving son of Johann Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach and his first wife Amalie of Na ...

(1691 in Oranjewoud – 1741) a Duke of Saxe-Eisenach * Hendrik Pasma (1813–1890), Mennonite pastor, writer, politician and farmer * Suzanne Manet (born 'Leenhoff', 1829–1906), pianist and opera singer, wife of

Édouard Manet Édouard Manet (, ; ; 23 January 1832 – 30 April 1883) was a French Modernism, modernist painter. He was one of the first 19th-century artists to paint modern life, as well as a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism (art movement), R ...

* Geerhardus Vos (1862–1949), a Dutch-American Calvinist theologian of the

Princeton Theology The Princeton theology was a tradition of conservative Reformed and Presbyterian theology at Princeton Theological Seminary lasting from the founding of that institution in 1812 until the 1920s, after which, due to the increasing influence of t ...

* Cissy van Marxveldt (1889 in Oranjewoud – 1948) a Dutch writer of children's books * Albert Gillis von Baumhauer (1891–1939) a Dutch aviation pioneer, designed the first Dutch helicopter *

Eelco van Kleffens Eelco Nicolaas van Kleffens (17 November 1894 – 17 June 1983) was a Dutch politician and diplomat. Biography Eelco van Kleffens descended from an old Frisian family of public servants. He was the son of Henricus Cato and Jeannette Frésine ...

(1894–1983) a Dutch politician and diplomat * Herman Zanstra (1894 in Schoterland – 1972) a Frisian/Dutch astronomer *

Fedde Schurer Fedde Schurer (, ; 25 July 1898 – 19 March 1968) was a Dutch schoolteacher, journalist, language, language activist and politician,Klaes Dykstra and Bouke Oldenhof, ''Lyts Hânboek fan de Fryske Literatuer'', Leeuwarden (Afûk), 1997, p. 92 and ...

(1898–1968), journalist, poet and politician and poet in the

West Frisian language West Frisian (; ), or simply Frisian ( ; ), is a West Germanic language spoken mostly in the province of Friesland () in the north of the Netherlands, mostly by those of Frisians, Frisian ancestry. It is the most widely spoken of the Frisian ...

* Adrianus van Kleffens (1899–1973) a judge at the

European Court of Justice The European Court of Justice (ECJ), officially the Court of Justice (), is the supreme court of the European Union in matters of European Union law. As a part of the Court of Justice of the European Union, it is tasked with interpreting ...

1952/1958 * Klaas Runia (1926 in Oudeschoot – 2006) a Dutch theologian, churchman and journalist *

Wim Duisenberg Willem Frederik "Wim" Duisenberg (; 9 July 1935 – 31 July 2005) was a Dutch politician and economist who served as President of the European Central Bank from 1 June 1998 until 31 October 2003. He was a member of the Labour Party (PvdA). Du ...

(1935–2005), politician and

President of the European Central Bank The president of the European Central Bank is the head of the European Central Bank (ECB), the main institution responsible for the management of the euro and monetary policy in the Eurozone of the European Union (EU) The current president of ...

1998/2003 * T. S. van Albada (born 1936 in Akkrum) a Dutch astronomer and academic *

Gretta Duisenberg Gretta Duisenberg-Nieuwenhuizen (born 6 November 1942) is a Dutch pro-Palestinian political activist. She is the widow of Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) politician Wim Duisenberg, who was also the first president of the European Central Bank. Biogr ...

(born 1942) a Dutch pro-Palestinian political activist * Jacob de Haan (born 1959), a Dutch contemporary composer known for wind music * Tineke Postma (born 1978), a Dutch saxophonist * Jan Huitema (born 1984), politician and

Member of the European Parliament A member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been Election, elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament. When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the European Coal and S ...

(MEP)

Sport

* Abe Lenstra (1920–1985), a Dutch football player with 730 club caps *

Foppe de Haan Foppe Geert de Haan (, born 26 June 1943) is a Dutch football coach. He is known for his long association with Frisian club Heerenveen. De Haan was the manager of the Tuvalu national team during 2011 and then rejoined Heerenveen's youth prog ...

(born 1943), football coach and politician * Margriet Zegers (born 1954), a retired Dutch field hockey defender, team gold medallist at the

1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and commonly known as Los Angeles 1984) were an international multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 12, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, United States. It marked the ...

* Franke Sloothaak (born 1958) a German show jumping Olympic champion *

Nico-Jan Hoogma Nico-Jan Hoogma (born 26 October 1968) is a Dutch former professional association football, footballer who played as a defender (association football), defender. He started his career with SC Cambuur and after three years moved to FC Twente. In 1 ...

(born 1968) a former football defender with 517 club caps * Falko Zandstra (born 1971), a former Dutch speed skater, silver medallist at the

1992 Winter Olympics The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games () and commonly known as Albertville '92 (Franco-Provençal, Arpitan: ''Arbèrtvile '92''), were a winter multi-sport event held from 8 to 23 February 1992 in and aroun ...

and bronze medallist the

1994 Winter Olympics The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games (; ) and commonly known as Lillehammer '94, were an international winter multi-sport event held from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Hav ...

* Carien Kleibeuker (born 1978) a Dutch long-distance speed skater, bronze medallist at the

2014 Winter Olympics The 2014 Winter Olympics, officially called the XXII Olympic Winter Games () and commonly known as Sochi 2014 (), were an international winter multi-sport event that was held from 7 to 23 February 2014 in Sochi, Russia. Opening ro ...

Epke Zonderland Epke Jan Zonderland (born 16 April 1986) is a Dutch artistic gymnast and the 2012 Olympic gold medallist on high bar. He is a 4-time Olympian (2008–20) and has also taken 3 World Championships golds on high bar at the 2013, 2014 and 2018 Wo ...

(born 1986), a gymnast and gold medallist at the

2012 Summer Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012, were an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...

Sven Kramer Sven Kramer (; born 23 April 1986) is a retired Dutch long track speed skater who has won an all-time record nine World Allround Championships as well as a record ten European Allround Championships. He is the Olympic champion of the 5000 mete ...

(born 1986), long track speed skater, three time Olympic champion in the 5000 meters *

Vladislav Bykanov Vladislav Bykanov (, ; born 19 November 1989) is an Israeli Olympic short track speed skating, short track speed skater. He won the gold medal in the 3,000m at the 2015 and 2018 European Championships. He competed for Israel at the 2014 Winter Ol ...

(born 1989) an Israeli Olympic short track speed skater, lives in Heerenveen *

Sanne Wevers Sanne Wevers (born 17 September 1991) is a Dutch artistic gymnast. She is the 2016 Summer Olympics, 2016 Olympic champion on the balance beam and was the first Dutch female gymnast to become an Olympic champion in an individual event. She is th ...

(born 1991), an artistic gymnast, gold medallist at the

2016 Summer Olympics The 2016 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXXI Olympiad () and officially branded as Rio 2016, were an international multi-sport event held from 5 to 21 August 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with preliminary events i ...

Antoinette de Jong Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong (; ; born 6 April 1995) is a Dutch speed skater. She won the bronze medal in the 3000 m at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. She also competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi Sochi ( rus ...

(born 1995) a Dutch speed skater, bronze medallist at the

2018 Winter Olympics The 2018 Winter Olympics (), officially the XXIII Olympic Winter Games (; ) and also known as PyeongChang 2018 (), were an international winter multi-sport event held between 9 and 25 February 2018 in Pyeongchang County, South Ko ...

* Lisa Top (born 1996), a Dutch artistic gymnast * Aafke Soet (born 1997), former short track speed skater, now cyclist *

Yasser Seirawan Yasser Seirawan (; born March 24, 1960) is a Syrian-born American chess grandmaster and four-time United States Chess Championship, United States champion. He won the World Junior Chess Championship in 1979. Seirawan is also a published chess au ...

(born 1960), American/Syrian chess grandmaster and champion known for his books and commentary on chess games, *

Andries Noppert Andries Noppert (born 7 April 1994) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Eredivisie club Heerenveen. Club career NAC Breda Trained through the youth ranks of Heerenveen, Noppert made his professional debut in 2014 f ...

(born 1994), Dutch National Team Goalkeeper World Cup 2022. * Anna-Maja Kazarian (born 7 January 2000), a Dutch chess player who holds the titles of FIDE Master (FM) and Woman International Master.

Twin cities

Heerenveen's longstanding connection with

Rishon LeZion Rishon LeZion ( , "First to Zion") is a city in Israel, located along the central Israeli coastal plain south of Tel Aviv. It is part of the Gush Dan metropolitan area. Founded in 1882 by Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire who were ...

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

ended in 2016 after the supporting organizations shut down in both countries.

Gallery

File:Abe Lenstra Stadion 08c.JPG,

Abe Lenstra Stadion Abe Lenstra Stadion () is a association football, football stadium, located in Heerenveen, Netherlands. It is currently used mostly as a home ground for Eredivisie club SC Heerenveen, Heerenveen. The current capacity is 27,224. Naming The stad ...

, football stadium File:21169 Heerenveen Crackstate 2.jpg, Crackstate File:Museumbelvedereoranjewoud.jpg, Museum Belvédère File:Heerenveen panorama 01.jpg, Heerenveen panorama

References

External links

* * * {{Authority control Municipalities of Friesland Populated places in Friesland Populated places established in 1551 1551 establishments in the Holy Roman Empire 16th-century establishments in the Netherlands