Aldtsjerk ( nl, Oudkerk) is a village on the main road from

Leeuwarden Leeuwarden (; fy, Ljouwert, longname=yes /; Stadsfries dialects, Town Frisian: ''Liwwadden''; Leeuwarder dialect: ''Leewarden'') is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in Fri ...

Dokkum Dokkum is a Dutch fortified city in the municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân in the province of Friesland. It has 12,669 inhabitants (February 8, 2020). The fortifications of Dokkum are well preserved and are known as the ''bolwerken'' (bulwarks). ...

. It is part of

Tytsjerksteradiel 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 ...

municipality,

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 ...

, 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 ...

and had around 615 inhabitants as of January 2018. Its annual festivities include the ''Doarpsfeest'', including a parade, held in the summer. Local landmarks include the ''Heemstra State'', former residence of the aristocratic Sminia family. The village's main road, the ''van Sminiaweg'' is about 1.5 km long and named after the Sminia family. The village also houses a former baker who was quite famous for his ''Oranjekoek'' and ''Suikerbrood'', but who retired in 2000 when the

euro The euro ( symbol: €; code: EUR) is the official currency of 19 out of the member states of the European Union (EU). This group of states is known as the eurozone or, officially, the euro area, and includes about 340 million citizens . ...

was introduced. Local shopping facilities are scarce: the nearest grocery market is located in Oentsjerk, about three kilometers outside town limits. The most notable shop of the town is a bike dealership and a store called ''Bram en Jannie's'', which stands not actually in the village itself, but halfway between Aldtjserk and Oentsjerk. In the center of the village is located the Aldtsjerk church, which was built in 12th century and gives the village its name ("Old Church"). Near the village is the ''Aldtsjerkster mar'', a small lake which is an important point on the

Elfstedentocht The ''Elfstedentocht'' (; West Frisian: ''Alvestêdetocht'' , English: ''Eleven cities tour'') is a long-distance tour skating event on natural ice, almost long, which is held both as a speed skating competition (with 300 contestants) and a lei ...

. In Dutch, the village is called Oudkerk ("Old Church"); Aldtsjerk is its West Frisian name. It was one of the first Frisian towns to be generally listed under its West Frisian, rather than its Dutch name. The Ouderkerkermolen is a preserved

windmill A windmill is a structure that converts wind power into rotational energy using vanes called sails or blades, specifically to mill grain (gristmills), but the term is also extended to windpumps, wind turbines, and other applications, in some ...

in Aldtsjerk.

Notable buildings

* The Protestant church of Aldtsjerk * The Ouderkerkermolen

Gallery

File:Aldtsjerk, eardere pastorij, Van Sminiawei.jpg, Former clergy house File:Aldtsjerk, brêge oer de Moark.jpg, Draw bridge File:Aldtsjerk, doarpsplein.jpg, Village square File:Eysingapad. Oudkerk.JPG, Houses in Aldtsjerk

References

External links

{{Authority control Populated places in Friesland Tytsjerksteradiel