Description
Friesland (official name, in Frisian: Fryslân) is one of the twelve Dutch provinces and lies in the north of the country. The capital is Ljouwert/Leeuwarden. In the Province of Friesland West Frisian is used as an official language, next to the Dutch standard language. The majority of the inhabitants of the Province of Friesland speaks West Frisian, although despite of bilingual schooling the level of Frisian literacy is rather low.
In the town of Leeuwarden / Ljouwert the regional government is located and also other important organisations and institutions of the West Frisians. These include the Fryske Akademy/Frisian Academy, the Mercator European Research Centre, Afûk, the Tresoar centre for West Frisian literature and history, and many more.
Size of the minority
Inhabitants of Friesland: 647,000
Inhabitants who are Frisian-speakers: 450,000 (Pan)
More
- http://www.11en30.nu.http://www.11en30.nu/ Page with 30 important moments in Frisian history (in Frisian), also with the latest history activities, books, etcetera
- Frisian Academy: http://www.fryske-akademy.nl/
- Afûk: http://afuk.nl/
- http://www.mercator-network.eu/index.php?id=1413
- Pan, Christoph / Pfeil, Beate S.: National Minorities in Europe: Handbook. Wilhelm Braumüller Verlag 2003
- Pan, Christoph / Pfeil, Beate S.: Die Volksgruppen in Europa. Ein Handbuch. Wilhelm Braumüller Verlag 2000
Language
West-Frisian (450.000 Speaker)
Country
