Franeker Attractions
Commune: Franekeradeel
Franeker, one of the 11 towns of Friesland, lies to the west of Leeuwarden. It first appears in the records in 1085; in the 12th century it was surrounded by walls and a moat; and it received a municipal charter in 1417. It is a charming little town with its ring of canals and its fine old buildings. Franeker is also noted for the Eise Eisinga Planetarium.
A university - the second in the Netherlands, after Leiden - was founded in Franeker in 1585, making it the cultural center of the north of the country. The most celebrated student of the Frisian Academy was the French philosopher Descartes. The university was dissolved by Napoleon in 1811 and was replaced in 1815 by an Athenaeum, which continued in existence until 1843.
Franeker, one of the 11 towns of Friesland, lies to the west of Leeuwarden. It first appears in the records in 1085; in the 12th century it was surrounded by walls and a moat; and it received a municipal charter in 1417. It is a charming little town with its ring of canals and its fine old buildings. Franeker is also noted for the Eise Eisinga Planetarium.
A university - the second in the Netherlands, after Leiden - was founded in Franeker in 1585, making it the cultural center of the north of the country. The most celebrated student of the Frisian Academy was the French philosopher Descartes. The university was dissolved by Napoleon in 1811 and was replaced in 1815 by an Athenaeum, which continued in existence until 1843.
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Planetarium
This planetarium was built in the 1770s by an amateur astronomer who used his living room ceiling to demonstrate his theory.
Frisian Numismatic Museum
The 16th century Camminghahus is now occupied by the Frisian Numismatic Museum (Fries Munten en Penningkabinet). The museum has a collection of coins minted in Friesland between the seventh and 18th centuries.
Hours
May 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Korendragershuisje
At Eise Eisingastraat 28 is the Korendragershuisje (1634), the guild house of the corn porters.
Martinahuis
The Martinahuis of 1498, which until 1983 contained the offices of the commune of Franekeradeel, is the only surviving tower house in Franeker.
St Martinikerk
The central feature of Franeker is St Martinikerk, an aisled pseudo-basilica (consecrated 1421), with the aisles continued by an ambulatory round the choir. The barrel-vaulted timber roof is borne on 30 columns. Notable features are the tombstones of university professors and the Gothic choir-stalls.
Town Hall
The Renaissance Town Hall (Stadhuis) in Raadhuisplein, built in 1591, has a richly decorated facade, with coats of arms, and a handsome external staircase. The roof has three stepped gables and is topped by an elegant octagonal tower. Some rooms in the building are open to visitors; particularly fine is the Council Chamber, its walls faced with gilded leather.
