Heerenveen

History

The town was established in 1551 by three lords as a location for the purpose of digging peat which was used for fuel, hence the name (heer is "lord", veen is "peat"). Heerenveen was not one of the traditional eleven cities in Friesland (Fryslan) as it did not have so-called city rights. However, it is now one of the larger municipalities of the province.

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

Population centres

Population as of 1 January 2004:

Heerenveen (29,750), Bontebok (440), De Knipe (1470), Gersloot (290), Hoornsterzwaag (890), Jubbega (3270), Katlijk (630), Luinjeberd (450), Mildam (740), Nieuwehorne (1500), Nieuweschoot (140), Oranjewoud (1030), Oudehorne (850), Oudeschoot (1480), Terband (290), and Tjalleberd (730).

Museums

Transport

Railway station: Heerenveen

Sports

Heerenveen is famous for its sporting accomplishments and world class sports accommodations. These include the Abe Lenstra football stadium and the Thialf speed skating arena which was one of the first indoor 400m ice rinks in the world, and where annually held international events draw large crowds. Thialf is also home to the city's ice hockey team, the Heerenveen Flyers. The town's football team, SC Heerenveen, plays in the first tier and has been a steady presence in the Europa League, topped by the team's biggest achievement when they qualified for the UEFA Champions League in 2000. In 2006, the "Sportstad" (Sport City) project was completed, which included a gymnastics hall, swimming pool and an extension to the football stadium, all of which are clustered together. The Abe Lenstra stadium is unusual because its supporter capacity is larger than the number of inhabitants of the town. One of the few football venues that shares this distinction is Stade Félix Bollaert in Lens, France. Several American football venues, mostly college football venues, also share this distinction.

Notable residents

Twin cities