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Although, like everywhere in the Netherlands and indeed in most of Europe and the rest of the world, people are well and truly world citizens and outwardly in their daily lives not much different from people elsewhere living a western life style.
However, there are still aspects of a culture dating back in time and opportunities to see the old costumes as they were worn by well-to-do farmers in the 19th Century. On special occasions there are competitions in "Ringrijden", involving couples in rich Frisian costumes riding two-wheeled buggies called "sjees", beautifully decorated and pulled by a thoroughbred black Frisian horse. The couples ride a parcours in the town with along the route at regular intervals a wooden "arm" attached with a hinge to an upright pole. A brass ring is stuck between two "fingers" of the wooden hand and the woman holds a short wooden spike, looking suspiciously like a pistol, with which she tries to collect the rings while going past at a steady trot. Obviously the couple collecting most rings wins.
There are also various folkdancing clubs but, as the "Ringrijden", these are now mostly only performed by older people. Couples dance to the accompaniment of a small orchestra, including accordeon and violin.
For younger people there are competitions in "Fierljeppen", where young men jump across waterways using long poles. This is obviously grown from living on the land, criscrossed by many canals, as boys, roaming around, used to carry long poles to jump across those.
On the Frisian island of Terschelling (Skylge in Frisian) can be found "Tobbesteken" where (young) competitors hurtle along a track in a small cart, armed with a long pole with which they try to collect a ring, attached to a board underneath a tub, full of water, hinged above the track; of course, when they miss and hit the board, they get a thorough drenching.
 Ringrijden, Harlingen |  Frisian dress |  Ringrijden, Joure |  Frisian costume | |
 Winners, Ringrijden |  Frisian couple |  Westfrisian dress |  Frisian Folkdancing | |
 "Fierljeppen" |  "Fierljeppen" |  "Tobbesteken" |  "Tobbesteken" |
| ...Visserijdagen in Harlingen... |
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