Harkema

Harkema
De Harkema (West Frisian)
Opeinde
Village
Reformed church
Location in Achtkarspelen municipality
Harkema
Location in the Netherlands
Harkema
Harkema (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 53°11′N 6°8′E / 53.183°N 6.133°E / 53.183; 6.133
Country Netherlands
Province Friesland
Municipality Achtkarspelen
Area
 • Total
6.53 km2 (2.52 sq mi)
Elevation2 m (6.6 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total
4,295
 • Density658/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
9281[1]
Dialing code0512

Harkema (West Frisian: De Harkema) is a village in the municipality of Achtkarspelen, province of Friesland, the Netherlands.

Harkema is in the eastern part of Friesland, 9 km (6 mi) north of Drachten. It was once known as Harkema-Opeinde. As of January 2017, the village had a population of 4,295.[3]

History

The village was first mentioned in 1530 as Opeyndt. The name Harkema means 'settlement of the descendants of Buwe Harkema'. In 1972, the name was officially changed from Harkema-Opeinde to Harkema.[4]

Harkema was originally a peat-excavation settlement. The initial linear settlement which mainly consisted of sod houses disappeared in the 18th century, but re-emerged during the 19th century. In 1840, it was home to 484 people. In 1883, a church was opened in a wooden shed, and was replaced in 1891 by a real church. The church was too small and was replaced by the current church in 1913. In the 1960s, Harkema experienced growth and started to attract industry.[5]

Sports

Harkema is home to the amateur football club [[Harkemase Boys]en Harkema Opeinde]. Cyclist Pieter Weening, who was the first Frisian to win a stage in the Tour de France, is from Harkema—along with another former cyclist pro, Wiebren Veenstra.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 29 March 2022. two entries
  2. ^ "Postcodetool for 9281HA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  3. ^ Villages Archived 2017-04-22 at the Wayback Machine - Achtkarspelen (in Dutch)
  4. ^ "Harkema - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Harkema". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 March 2022.

Media related to Harkema at Wikimedia Commons