NL-462191

Sneek, Netherlands

A card from Sneek, Netherlands, arrived last Friday, just before my birthday.

Sneek is a city southwest of Leeuwarden and the seat of the Municipality Sneek in the province of Friesland (Netherlands). The city has approximately 33.000 inhabitants.
Sneek is situated in Southwest-Friesland, close to the Sneekermeer and is well known for its canals, the Waterpoort (Watergate, the symbol of the city), and watersport (Sneekweek). Sneek is one of the Friese elf steden (Eleven cities). The city is very important for the southwest area of Friesland (the "Zuidwesthoek").

Sneek received several city rights in the 13th century, which became official in 1456. Sneek was now one of the eleven Frisian cities. This was also the beginning of a blooming trading city that would last until the year 1550. In 1492 they began building a ditch and wall around the city. In those days Sneek was the only city in Friesland that had a wall. Only the waterpoort and the bolwerk are remaining today.

Sneek has its own dialect that dates back to the Dutch language in 1600. Snekers is part of the city Frisian dialects.