What is "leeuwarden"

Leeuwarden (, Frisian: Ljouwert , Stadsfries: Liwwadden) is a city and municipality with a population of 108,249 in Friesland in the Netherlands. It is the provincial capital and seat of the States of Friesland.

The oldest remains of houses date back to the 2nd century AD. Leeuwarden has been permanently inhabited since the 10th century. It was granted city privileges in 1435. The city was liberated from German occupation in World War II by The Royal Canadian Dragoons in 1945. Part of the city centre was destroyed by fire in 2013.

Besides the city of Leeuwarden, population centres in the municipality with a population of 1,000 or more are Grou, Goutum, Wergea, Jirnsum, Reduzum, and Wirdum. The municipality is governed by mayor Ferd Crone and a coalition of the Labour Party, Christian Democratic Appeal, and PAL- GroenLinks.

The Elfstedentocht is a skating tour that starts and finishes in Leeuwarden.