Achtkarspelen

Achtkarspelen (Dutch pronunciation: [ɑxtˈkɑrspələ(n)] ^ⓘ) is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Northern Netherlands. In 2021, it had a population of 27,900.

Achtkarspelen
Municipality
Road into Surhuizum
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Friesland
Coordinates: 53°15′N 6°9′E
Country	Netherlands
Province	Friesland
Government
• Body	Municipal council
• Mayor	Oebele Brouwer
Area [1]
• Total	103.98 km2 (40.15 sq mi)
• Land	102.23 km2 (39.47 sq mi)
• Water	1.75 km2 (0.68 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	2 m (7 ft)
Population  (January 2021)[3]
• Total	27,900
• Density	273/km2 (710/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode	Parts of 9000 range
Area code	0511, 0512
Website	www.achtkarspelen.nl

History

The name Achtkarspelen, literally meaning "eight parishes", is derived from the original eight parishes within the grietenij, namely: Augustinusga, Buitenpost (the capital), Drogeham, De Kooten, Kortwoude, Lutkepost, Surhuizum and Twijzel. Achtkarspelen held a separate status within Friesland for many years. In the Middle Ages Achtkarspelen fell under the Bishopric of Münster, meanwhile the rest of Friesland was a part of the Bishopric of Utrecht.

The grietenij Achtkarspelen became a municipality in 1851 as a result of the Municipality Act of Minister of the Interior Johan Rudolph Thorbecke.

Population centres

Topographic map of Achtkarspelen, June 2015

The administrative centre in the municipality is Buitenpost.

Dutch name	West Frisian name	Population
Augustinusga	Stynsgea	1332
Boelenslaan	Boelensloane	1145
Buitenpost	Bûtenpost	5785
Drogeham	Droegeham	1751
Gerkesklooster-Stroobos	Gerkeskleaster-Strobos	1140
Harkema	De Harkema	4235
Kootstertille	Koatstertille	2595
Surhuisterveen	Surhústerfean	5810
Surhuizum	Surhuzem	1371
Twijzel	Twizel	1093
Twijzelerheide	Twizelerheide	1889

Notable people

• Derk Holman (1916 in Buitenpost – 1982 in Groningen) a Dutch sculptor and ceramist
• Louw de Graaf (born 1930 in Kootstertille) a retired Dutch politician and trade union leader.
• Gerriet Postma (1932 in Twijzelerheide – 2009) a Dutch painter
• Johannes Lützen Bouma (born 1934 in Twijzelerheide) a Dutch economist and academic
• David Porcelijn (born 1947 in Achtkarspelen) a Dutch composer and conductor
• Joop Atsma (born 1956 in Surhuisterveen) a Dutch politician and sport administrator.
• Meindert Talma (born 1968 in Surhuisterveen) a Dutch lo-fi singer and keyboardist
• Oedo Kuipers (born 1989 in Stroobos) a Dutch singer and actor in musical theatre

Gallery

• 
  Augustinusga Dwarsreed
• 
  Boelenslaan Oranje gekte
• 
  Begin van de Kolk, Surhuisterveen
• 
  The Hoendiep near Stroobos