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If a Dutchman thinks about Province of Friesland, he usually thinks about the elfstedentocht, fierljeppen, kaatsen of skûtsjesilen, all traditional sports closely related to Friesland. But Friesland is more than that. It is a place of peace and tranquillity, of nature and water. A place to cycle, hike, sail of one of the many waters, go shopping the villages and cities and enjoy a wealth of culture and nature.
The landscape is very open, with an occasional village or city. There are 11 cities in Friesland, each with its own identity and charm. The number of inhabitants varies from 700 (Sloten) to 90,000 (Leeuwarden). It is remarkable that all cities are located in the western part of the Province. Most cities thank their city rights and their wealth to trade shipping, because of the proximity to the Zuiderzee and the Middelzee. By changement of the landscape through setting up polders and reclamationg land several cities have lost their seafront location.

For Wadden Sea and the Wadden Islands see Wadden Sea and Terschelling, Vlieland, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog

Nature & Landscape

Sea and Coastline
Wadden Sea: shallow coastal sea, part of an international tidal sea very much the breeding grounds for the Noordzee. Home to Common Seals, Grey Seals en various species of coastal birds and fish. The Frisian land is guarded from the sea by sea dikes. The land on the seasides of the dikes are the former reclameted land area’s.
Lauwersmeer: this used to be the Lauwerszee (meer = lake, zee = sea). The dikes were built in 1969, part of it is owned by the Dutch Military (Marnerwaard), the remainder is a National Park under construction with mainly grass and reed, swamp forests and water. Especially the grasslands are home to a rich flora (such as orchids and Parnassia); important as breeding grounds for stilt-walkers (especially the ruff) important as a place of rest for migratory birds and winter guests (ducks and geese). The National Park is open to visitors on cycle tracks and hiking paths. Birds in the Lauwersmeer
Bantpolder (113 ha): landside dyke polder, important to brentgoose, breeding ground for several stilts (such as black-tailed gotwit and avocet) and resting and wintering area for many thousands of barnacle geese. Not open for visitors.
Peazemerlannen (480 ha): former reclameted land area’s, a large part of which has developed to a salt marsh as a result of a breach of the summer dike in 1973, important to birds, amongst others sterns, avocets, ducks and geese. Not open for visitors, but the summer dyke offer a good view of the Park.
Bildtpollen - Noord-Friesland Buitendijks (2430 ha): two adjacent reclamated land area’s, consisting of silt, salt marsh and summer polders on the edge of the Waddenzee. The summer polders and high salt marsh are grazed, the salt marsh and lower marsh flood in high tides. The salt marsh vegetation consists of Sea Aster, Rice grass and Salicornia and many other species. The area is of great importance to breeding birds and to migratory birds and winter guest (ducks and geese). The area is open for visitors except for the breeding time (April-15 July). During this time the area is closed for visitors, apart from the Zeedijk and a hiking path.

IJsselmeer
The IJsselmeer is a shallow sweet inland lake, remainder of the once grand and barren Zuiderzee, which was finally tamed in 1932 by the construction of the Afsluitdijk. This dike closed off the Zuiderzee. The IJsselmeer is of great importance to water birds, for the water management and it is home to species of fish such as perch, kolblei?, carp, rudd, pike and pikeperch.
Sandbanks, which are a reminder of the Waddengebied can be seen from the Afsluitdijk until Lemmer. These sandbanks are formed in the former Zuiderzee, a tidal marsh landscape with shoals, banks and channel passageses formed bij alluviation and throw. As a result of currents and waves, narrow bracebanks were created.
After the constructions of the Afsluitdijk, the tides disappeared and the water became sweet. The water level was lowered, causing the bracebanks and plates to become permanently dry. Soon after, these dry areas called surfaces, were covered with plants such as reed, shrubbery en bushes and they became important for breeding birds and migratory birds. The Northern coastal area harbours a lot of shellbank and the water soil contains a lot shell grit, a reminder of the Zuiderzee.
Makkumer- en Kooiwaard (1680 ha): this large surface which is divided by a large channel is thanks to the mowing regime home to orchids; of importance to breeding birds such as Bittern,Spotted crake, Water rail, Avocet, Harriers and Terns, in wintertime for ducks, geese and swans. Not open to visitors but clearly visible from the sea dike at Piaam (Kooireid).
Workumerwaard (700 ha): the shell banks and grassy plains are the ideal breeding ground for the Stern (Common tern, Little tern), avocet and grouse; grazing provides an open vegetation with several different kids of Orchids. Not open to visitors in the breeding season, the rest of the year open for visitors holding a ticket (for sale at the town hall of Workum).
Bocht van Molkwerum (420 ha): important resting area for birds, especially in winter. Only accessible through the trail leading to the bird hut, but very visible from the sea dyke. On the southern shoreline, between the coast and the bracebanks, there usually is a broad shallow stretch of water. This open water and the barren sand plates are ideal for a great diversity in birds, the protected areas are:
Mokkebank (1400 ha): the sandbanks covered in reed and shrubbery are surrounded by water; important resting and breeding grounds for futen, ducks, geese, Coots, Swans, Stilt-walkers, Terns, Spoonbills etc. Not open to visitors but clearly visible for the seadike and from the bird hut at Laaksum.
Steile Bank (1200 ha): barren sand plate, surrounded by water. Resting area for several birds such as ducks, geese and cormorants. Not open to visitors but clearly visible fro the seadike just West of Oudemirdum

Cultivated landscape
The Northern sea clay area is mainly characterised by grassy plains, therefore it contains a lot of cattle breeding There are only a few buildings, a few farms are scattered on the vast plains. In the Southwest on the shores of the IJsselmeer there are a few peat grounds and swamps. The low and wet areas were given the chance to develop in a natural way, because they were unsuitable for agricultural use. The low turf swamps developed into lush and very varied nature reserves. A part of the area outside the dikes has been impoldered and is in use as cultivated land. Because they area is located below sea level, the polder waterways sometimes contain brackish water. Sometimes this can result in an a very special brackish water flora.

Nature Management
Many nature reserves are being maintained by the It Fryske Gea. This foundation maintains over 50 separate nature reserves, with a total surface of over 18.700 hectare. The Water Board (Wetterskip Fryslân) is in control of the dikes and water management.

Nature centres
Fries Natuurmuseum: the Frisian Landscape, whale exposition. Schoenmakersperk 2, Leeuwarden. Tel. +31 (0)58 2129085. www.friesnatuurmuseum.nl
Natuurmuseum Dokkum: nature in North - East Friesland. Kleine Oosterstraat 12, Dokkum. Tel. +31 (0) 519 297318.
Mar en Klif: information centre on Nature and Landscape in South-West Friesland. With a badgerburch? and Herb garden. Entrance fee obligatory. De Brink 4, Oudemirdum. Tel. +31 (0)514 571777.
Natuurhistorisch Museum It Fûgelhûs: collection of over 200 different species of birds and the history of the corals. Buren 8, Piaam, tel. +31 (0) 515 575681.