Harlingen

Harlingen cannot really be called a city, it has barely 15,000 inhabitants. Yet it has city rights since 1234. The history goes back to 1157. It is one of the 11 towns in the northern province of Friesland and has always been an important trading center. The city is located in the northwest of the province. Here still leave the ferry to the islands of Terschelling and Vlieland and many fishermen have boats here. It has multiple ports. Because of the trade it has also more commitment with Holland than with Friesland. The sea is both friend and foe of the city. Friend because boats come and go, enemy because the sea at storm also poses a threat.

Harlingen has many historic buildings (about 600) and is therefore very touristy. There are many alleys (gloppen) and there is even a kind of city walls. The city is surrounded by water. It is also home to many barges of Brown fleet (named after the brown sails, but nowadays most ships have white sails). Because of the water there are many activities throughout the year that have to do with the water, as the sloop race to Terschelling, swimming at sea competitions and (music) festivals at sea. Manu activities are related with water sports as an important tourist activity.

The city is easily accessible by car (via the 'Afsluitdijk' from the west (A7), A31 from Leeuwarden from northeast and N7 from Sneek in the southeast), train from Leewarden and buses from various other places. Parking in Harlingen is no more free because of the large influx of cars.

There are also plenty of hotels in the city where one can stay overnight.

First published: 23 October 2016
Last update: 23 October 2016
© A. Heeroma

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