View source for Bolsward

{{Expand language|topic=geo|langcode=fy|date=March 2025}}
{{more footnotes|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name           = Bolsward
| native_name             = ''Boalsert''
| settlement_type         = City and former municipality
| image_skyline           = Stadhuis_Bolsward_01.JPG
| imagesize               = 250px
| image_alt               = City Hall
| image_caption           = City Hall
| image_flag              = Bolsward flag.svg
| flag_size               = 120x100px
| flag_alt                = Flag of Bolsward
| image_seal              = 
| seal_size               = 
| seal_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Bolsward wapen.svg
| shield_size             = 120x100px
| shield_alt              = Coat of arms of Bolsward
<!--
| image_map               = Map - NL - Municipality code 0064 (2009).svg
| mapsize                 = 250px
-->
| pushpin_map             = Netherlands Friesland#Netherlands<!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_label_position  = right
| pushpin_mapsize         = 250
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location in the Netherlands
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Friesland]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Súdwest-Fryslân]]

| area_footnotes          = <ref name="stat"/>
| area_total_km2          = 9.42
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |title = Postcodetool for 8701AA |language = nl |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis |access-date = 2 April 2022 }}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 0.5
| population_as_of        = 2021
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="stat">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_excel/2021/48/kwb-2021.xls |title=Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 |website=Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=2 April 2022}}</ref>
| population_total        = 10,085
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_note         = 
| population_demonym      = 
| timezone1               = 
| utc_offset1             = 
| timezone1_DST           = 
| utc_offset1_DST         = 
| timezone                = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset              = +1
| timezone_DST            = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[List of postal codes in the Netherlands|Postal code]]
| postal_code             = 8700-8702<ref name="stat"/>
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Dialing code]]
| area_code               = 0515
| iso_code                = 
| footnotes               = 
| coordinates             = {{coord|53|04|N|5|32|E|region:NL|display=inline, title}}
}}

'''Bolsward''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈbɔlsʋɑrt|-|443 Bolsward.ogg}}, [[West Frisian language|West Frisian]]: ''Boalsert'') is a [[city]] in [[Súdwest-Fryslân]] in the [[Provinces of the Netherlands|province]] of [[Friesland]], the [[Netherlands]]. Bolsward has a population of just under 10,200. It is located 10&nbsp;km W.N.W. of [[Sneek]].<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Bolsward}}</ref>

== History ==
The town is founded on three [[artificial dwelling mound]]s, the first of which was built some time before Christ.
During the [[Middle Ages]], Bolsward was a trade center and port city connected to the [[North Sea]] via the Middle Sea. This connection was lost when the Middle Sea was reclaimed to form arable land. After this, a canal was dug to the Zuiderzee.<ref name=EB1911/> The town is first mentioned in AD 725.

As a trading city, Bolsward was granted [[City rights in the Netherlands|city rights]] by [[Philip the Good]] in 1455. Bolsward was made a member of the [[Hanseatic league]] in 1422.<ref name=EB1911/> Before being merged into the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân, the town of Bolsward was an independent municipality.

=== Notable historical figures ===
Notable historical figures born here include:
* [[Juw Juwinga]] or Jonghema (14th century), 11th [[potestaat of Friesland|''potestaat'' of Friesland]]
* [[Petrus Thaborita]] (1450–1527), historian
* [[Boetius à Bolswert|Boetius Adamsz Bolswert]] (c.1580-1633), engraver
* [[Schelderic Adamsz Bolswert]] (c.1586-1659), engraver
* [[Gysbert Japiks]] (1603–1666), poet
* [[Frederick Philipse]] (1626–1702), American progenitor and founder
* [[Willem Muurling]] (1805–1882), theologian
* [[Titus Brandsma]] (1881–1942), Carmelite philosopher

==Events==
Heamiel. A local festival of four days in June. This is an old traditional festival to celebrate that the farmers finished getting the hay from the fields. The name of the festival, Heamiel, is Frisian for 'Hay meal', and is derived from the traditional banquet.

Bolletongersdei. Bolletongersdei is Frisian for 'bulls Thursday'. Bolletongersdei includes a street market. Bolletongersdei is held on the first Thursday of October.

Simmerwike. A festival of four evenings with musical performances, held in August.

===Elfstedentocht===
Bolsward is one of the eleven Frisian cities in which the [[Elfstedentocht|ice skating Elfstedentocht]], an [[ice skating]] [[marathon]], is held. Because the marathon depends on the thickness of the ice, it is not held on a regular schedule and is somewhat rare.

Bolsward is also the host city for the yearly [[Eleven Cities Cycling Tour|Cycling Elfstedentocht]], a [[road bicycle racing]] tour.

== Notable buildings ==
* [[Protestant church of Bolsward]]
* [[Gysbert Japiks#Gysbert Japicx House|Gysbert Japicx House]], birth place and museum about Gysbert Japiks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gysbertjapicx.nl/gysbert-japicxhus/|title=Gysbert Japicxhûs|website=Gysbert Japicx.nl|access-date=12 June 2020|language=nl}}</ref>
*Broerekerk (burned 1980, repurposed 2006)[[File:Bolsward-Broerekerk-May-2018.jpg|alt=Tan stone medieval church with triangular front. The roof is made of glass and there is a modern fountain in the shape of a bat in front. A few pedestrians are milling around.|thumb|279x279px|The Broerekerk in 2018 with bat fountain in front from Leeuwarden-Friesland European Capital of Culture 2018.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.bolsward.nl Official website]

{{Frisian cities}}
{{Dutch municipality Súdwest-Fryslân}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bolsward| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of the Netherlands disestablished in 2011]]
[[Category:Cities in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Cities in Friesland]]
[[Category:Former municipalities of Friesland]]
[[Category:Populated places in Friesland]]
[[Category:Súdwest-Fryslân]]