Derek Ogilvie - Up Close and Personal
An intimate evening with Derek Ogilvie in Leeuwarden, focusing on spirituality and personal connections.
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Leeuwarden
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capital
ℹ️Practical info — Leeuwarden
▾
🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Climb the Oldehove tower; although unfinished, it actually leans more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
- Take a tour on a 'praam' (flat-bottomed boat) to see the city's narrow canals from a unique perspective.
- Notice the bilingual street signs. Frisian is a recognized distinct language, not just a Dutch dialect.
- Visit the Blokhuispoort, a former prison transformed into an animated cultural hub with cafes and shops.
- The historical center is best explored on foot; cars are restricted in many of the shopping streets.
🍽 Food
🍽
Fryske Sûkerbôle
Frisian sugar bread, sticky and very sweet. Buy it fresh at a traditional bakery in the city center.
🍽
Kibbeling
Deep-fried fish bites. Enjoy them freshly made at the Friday market on the Wilhelminaplein.
🍽
Beerenburg
A traditional local herbal liqueur. Try it in a cozy historical 'bruin café' along the canals.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
🛍
Kleine Kerkstraat
Voted the best shopping street in the Netherlands multiple times. Full of independent boutiques and specialty food shops.
🛍
Waagplein area
Look for excellent Frisian cheese and local souvenirs in the specialty shops surrounding the old weigh house.
🧘
Prinsentuin
A beautiful waterfront park with a marina. Great for relaxing and watching the boats go by during the summer.
🧘
De Groene Ster
A large recreational area just outside the city with lakes, beaches, and quiet walking paths.
Water temperature…
Highlights of 2026
1
Leeuwarden is the proud capital of the province of Friesland, a city with deep-rooted history and a distinct cultural identity. Built on three artificial dwelling mounds known as 'terpen', it was granted city rights in 1435, establishing it as a key trading center in the north. A prominent landmark is the Oldehove, a leaning, unfinished church tower from the 16th century that has become a symbol of Frisian stubbornness and character. Leeuwarden is also famous as the starting and finishing point of the legendary Elfstedentocht, the world-renowned speed skating marathon through eleven Frisian cities. The city is the birthplace of famous figures such as the spy Mata Hari and the graphic artist M.C. Escher, whose legacies are honored in local museums. In 2018, Leeuwarden served as the European Capital of Culture, which revitalized the city and strengthened its standing as a major cultural hub. Today, Leeuwarden is an important educational center and a leader in water technology and agricultural sectors.
- Location: Friesland, Netherlands
- Top sights: Oldehove · Fries Museum · De Waag
- Nearby: Sneek (21 km)
- Population: ~124.481
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 4 |
| Rain mm | 78 | 63 | 55 | 40 | 60 | 65 | 81 | 85 | 65 | 70 | 71 | 78 |
Geography
Facts
- The Oldehove tower leans even more sharply than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
- Leeuwarden has a population of about 125,000 and is the largest city in Friesland.
- The Fries Museum is the largest provincial museum in the Netherlands.
- Mata Hari was born in Leeuwarden in 1876 as Margaretha Geertruida Zelle.
- The city center contains over 600 nationally protected monuments.
- Leeuwarden is home to Wetsus, a world-leading center of excellence for sustainable water technology.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Leeuwarden (25)
Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden🏛 museum
Museum of Leeuwarden's history in the former 19th-century town hall.
🌐 historischcentrumleeuwarden.nl🕒 Tu-Fr 11:00-17:00; Sa-Mo 13:00-17:00; PH off
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Friesland?
Leeuwarden (Frisian: Ljouwert) is the historic capital city of the province of Friesland.
What is the Oldehove?
An unfinished, leaning brick church tower that is more tilted than the Tower of Pisa.
Which famous spy was born here?
Mata Hari was born in Leeuwarden in 1876; you can find a statue and museum exhibits about her.
Are there canals in Leeuwarden?
Yes, the city features a beautiful network of historic canals throughout the city center.
What is the Fries Museum?
A major modern museum showcasing the culture, history, and art of the Frisian people.
Leeuwarden: where is it located?
Leeuwarden is located in Friesland, Netherlands.
Leeuwarden: what is there to see?
Highlights include Oldehove, Fries Museum, De Waag.
Leeuwarden: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Leeuwarden: why is it worth visiting?
Leeuwarden is the proud capital of the province of Friesland, a city with deep-rooted history and a distinct cultural identity.
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