Franeker
Like the other eleven cities, Franeker/Frjentsjer has a rich history, but that wealth is not due to fishing or shipping. The city developed strongly in the Middle Ages. At that time, a kind of public administration was organized around Franeker, as first in Friesland. In addition, they started building dikes so that the land flooded less often. Late in the Middle Ages, Franeker was officially granted city rights.
From 1585 to 1811 Franker also had his own university. This attracted many scientists, which in turn had a positive influence on the entire economy of the city. Studies that could be taken at the university included classical languages, medicine, theology and law.
Today Franeker is one of the largest of the eleven cities. You can still learn a lot about history in Franeker, if only by the beautiful old buildings that are still there. But it is also a beautiful city to grab a terrace. What makes Franeker even more worth visiting is the Koninklijke Eise Eisinga Planetarium.
Get a stamp
You can get your stamp at the Koninklijke Eise Eisinga Planetarium . You should not miss this planetarium during your visit to Franeker. Two birds with one stone!
You can park in Franeker at the parking lot on the Leeuwarderweg. You are then at the Planetarium and in the center.
Fun fact
The Planetarium, Museum Martena and the Kaatsmuseum have put together a Combi-Card. With the Combikaart you can easily visit two of the three museums in Franeker. These are the options then:
* Planetarium and Museum Martena
* Planetarium and Kaatsmuseum
* Museum Martena and Kaatsmuseum
These combination cards can be purchased at all three museums and are valid for one year.
What to do in France
There is a lot to do in Franeker. From museums to all kinds of sporting activities.
1. Fountain
Franeker’s fountain, De Oort Cloud, is an ode to astronomer Jan Hendrik Oort. He was born in Franeker and has made a big difference in astronomy with his assumption that a ‘cloud’ of billions of comet-like objects moves around our solar system. The fountain was created by Jean-Michel Othoniel, who also created a fountain for the Palace of Versailles. After your visit to the fountain, take a nice city walk through the center, which will take you directly to various highlights.
2. Royal Eise Eisinga Planetarium
In a beautiful canal house in Franeker you will find the Koninklijke Eise Eisinga Planetarium . This is the oldest working planetarium in the world. It was built between 1774 and 1781 by Eise Eisinga. The Planetarium shows the current position of the planets to this day. The planets of the Planetarium move around the sun in exactly the same time as the real planets. Saturn takes more than 29 years, Mercury 88 days. The gears, made of wooden hoops and disks and teeth of six thousand hand-forged nails, are driven by a pendulum clock and nine weights.
Very special anyway, but what makes it even more special is that Eise Eisinga was only interested in mathematics and astronomy for his hobby. He was a wool comber by trade. You can admire the planetarium itself. In addition, you will find all kinds of historical astronomical instruments in the museum and a section is devoted to modern astronomy.
Opening hours
Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
April 1 – October 31 also Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In the Planetarium Room, each visitor is given an explanation.
3. Museum Martena
Museum Martena is located in the Martenastins, the city castle from 1500 in the center of Franeker. In the museum, the academy hall is completely dedicated to the University of Franeker. You will also find paintings, De Kermis van Kooistra, objects from history, and changing exhibitions in which attention is regularly paid to modern art from Friesland.
Fun fact: Anna Maria van Schurman probably lived in the Martenastins as a child. She was the first woman in the Netherlands to study at university. Not, just like her brother and father, in Franeker but in Utrecht. She has been given her own room in the museum.
4. The PC
Handball is one of the most famous sports in Friesland. The most important game of the season is the PC. Whoever wins this match is named ‘King’. The PC was created after the game of bouncing was in danger of being lost altogether in 1853. A committee was set up in Franeker, with the aim of preserving the sport. With success, nowadays there is plenty of bouncing in Friesland. The PC is held every year on the fifth Wednesday after June 30 at ‘t Sjûkelân. If you are in Franeker, make sure you get a ticket for the oldest annual sports classic in the Netherlands.
5. Eat a real Franeker Loskop
Since 2020 you can taste a real Loskop again at the bakers in Franeker. This hazelnut meringue is not just any pastry; it used to be the favorite of the professors. Back then the pastry was still called a Haselbol. The name changed after three students had to appear in court in 1642 for breaking into a cafe. The presiding judge erupted in anger when he saw that one of the students was his son. He threw a Haselbol at his son. While the chairman threw the pastry, he called out to his son, among other things. The bakers saw an opportunity in this scandal and renamed the pastry Loskop.
6. Walk through the area
The Slachtedijk is a road of almost 42 km long. This road runs through the former Frisian district of Westergo, of which Franeker is part. The Slaughter Marathon is held on this road every four years. If you don’t want to wait that long or who prefer not to walk 42 km, there is a 14 km long walk that starts and ends at the Planetarium. This walk partly crosses the Slachtedijk and takes you through the area around Franeker.
7. Clay route over the water
Would you rather discover the area from the water? Then rent a boat and sail the beautiful Clay Route . This cruise takes about five hours and sails through the beautiful landscape of this part of Friesland, you also pass small villages and through Leeuwarden . The route is for sale at the tourist office or at the municipal office in Franeker.
8. The City Inn
The Stadsherberg is located in a building that used to be an inn. The Oosterpoort used to close around the evening. And travelers who arrived too late could still spend the night in Franeker. The Stadsherberg is now a restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious dinner or lunch on a warm terrace by the water. They put together the menu with care every season and the ingredients for the dishes come from the Franeker area. You can also rent a boat here to discover Franeker.
9. The Handball Museum
The Handball Museum in Franeker is the oldest sports museum in the Netherlands. The museum is completely devoted to the Frisian sport of handball. Frisian handball originated in the 12th century in cloisters in France and has therefore found its way north via Belgium. The sport is still very much alive in Friesland. With thousands of practitioners, members and supporters. And therefore a museum of its own! This year the museum has a very special exhibit on “The Magic of the Silver Ball.”