Sneek

Sneek ( Frisian: Snits ) is a city in the province of Friesland (Netherlands). It has 33 573 inhabitants (as at 31 December 2010). On 1 January 2011 Sneek became part of the newly formed community Súdwest - Fryslân.

The metropolitan area also includes the following villages and settlements: Loënga, Offingawier and Ysbrechtum.

Location and economic

Sneek is situated about 20 kilometers south of Leeuwarden, with which it is connected by a highway and a serviced every half hour railway line, and 15 kilometers northwest of Heerenveen.

The city has several industrial and service companies. Previously they had a large cattle market. The water sports tourism is of great importance.

History

Sneek originated in the Middle Ages on a terp ( German: ' terp '), where stood the St. Martin Church. Sneek received several city rights, which were officially awarded in 1456 in the 13th century. In the late Middle Ages, it was repeatedly ravaged by fires.

In 1492 we began to wall the city. Sneek was the only Frisian town that was completely walled. From the ramparts, the Water Gate ( de waterpoort ) is still preserved. After 1672, the city developed slowly up to the present form.

Attractions

Outstanding is the water gate formed in 1613, one of its kind in the Netherlands unique building. The gate with the two slender towers is the landmark of Sneek.

The city has several small museums, including a maritime museum, and since 2005, a model railway museum in the station.

The Martinikerk was built in 1100 and completely renovated after its collapse in 1681. In the church there is a built in 1710 by Arp Schnitger organ.

The town hall was built in the 15th century and renovated in the 18th century in the Rococo style. , Are in Sneek, among other things on the canal Kleinzand, several old houses from the period 1600-1780.

Events

• The most important sailing regatta of Sneek is the " Sneekweek " ( Sneekweek ). Take place in early August of each year these competitions.
• Through Sneek the range of elfstedentocht, the famous skating marathon race runs along the eleven Frisian cities.

Personalities

• Georges Simenon lived in the 1930s, a time in Sneek. The city is the scene of his novel The Killer in which Simenon a literary image of the upper middle class Dutch provincial towns distinguished.
• Clemens and August Brenninkmeijer founded here in 1841 the company C & A Brenninkmeijer.
• The speed skater ( three time Olympic gold medalist ) Anni Friesinger lives here with her husband Ids Postma, who runs a farm on site.