Harlingen (Harns)

Fryslân's port city of Harlingen has a rich history; in the 17th and 18th Century (The "Golden Age") its fleet sailed the world's oceans and merchants settled in the city. Harlingen's old stately homes, with their impressive gables, date from these days. The city's centre is one of the best preserved in Fryslân, a warren of old neighbourhoods, alleys and canals.

Harlingen's maritime history is obvious as its harbours dominate the city. The Noorderhaven (Northern Harbour) is wonderfully restored, with its monumental warehouses. A lock leads into the Binnenhaven (Inner Harbour), with its Harbour Building and, via another lock, into the Outer harbour and the Waddenzee, the sea between the mainland and the Frisian islands. Every year around the end of August he city is the venue of the "Visserijdagen" (Fishery Days) an annual festival celebrating its connection to the sea.

To the south of the centre is the Zuiderhaven (Southern Harbour) and beyond that the Westerzeedijk (Western Sea dyke), protecting the low-lying land from the sea. And on top of this dyke, next to a small beach, is the "Stenen Man" (Stone Man), a monument to Caspar de Robles, a 16th Century Spanish Stadtholder who, during the Spanish occupation, organised improvements to the dykes after catastrophic flooding in 1570. His statue dates from 1774 and features two faces, overlooking the dyke on both sides.

	"The Stone Man"	Fishing Boats	Zuiderhaven	The Inner Harbour
	Café "'t Noordeke"	Open air chess	Open air concert	Fishery harbour
	Sloop racing	House boat	Cooling off	Waddenzee view

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