Canon of Friesland


The Canon of Friesland or Canon of Frisian History is a list of 41 topics offering a chronological summary of significant events and individuals in Frisian history.
Following the example of the Canon of Groningen, the Canon of Friesland is a provincial supplement to the Canon of the Netherlands. The canon was composed by an independent commission led by Goffe Jensma and presented in print on 11 November 2008 to Jannewietske de Vries, deputy of the provincial-executive of Friesland. The website 11en30.nu was launched thereafter, produced by Tresoar and Omrop Fryslân. In the years since, the Canon of Frisian history has become a common tool for educators.
Note that the life and work of Eise Eisinga is the only topic included in both Frisian and Dutch histories.
TopicDescriptionPeriodImage
1The CowThe arrival of farmers and cattle 3400 BCE
2The Hludana stoneIn contact with the Romans12 BCE to 400
3HegebeintumFriesland in the time of terps 600 BCE to 1000 CE
4Sailors and merchantsThe heyday of trade450–1200
5Redbad and BonifaceA heathen king and a Christian martyr689–754
6Friesland as land of monasteriesThe glory of the monasteries1100–1580
7The Frisian freedomRather dead than slave!1250–1498
8The Old Frisian lawFrom Lex Frisionum to Alde Druk800–1504
9Edzard SirksenaBuilder of a Frisian state1462–1528
10Grutte PierFreedom hero or barbarian? 1480–1520
11The AyttasFrisians in royal service1499–1577
12Minne SimensThe Radical Reformation in Friesland1496–1561
13WaterFresh and saline, friend and foe600 BCE to now
14The calculating farmerThe ledger of Rienck Hemmema1569–1573
15The University in FranekerLittle powerhouse of learning1585–1843
16Gysbert JapiksOrdinary and straightforward1603–1666
17Anna Maria fan SchurmanLearned and faithful1607–1678
18Sikke fan GoslingaNobleman, regent, diplomat1661–1731
19Maria Louise fan Hessen-KasselThe Nassaus in Friesland1688–1765
20Eise EisingaLiving in a planetarium1744–1828
21From republic to unitary stateErstwhile free Frisians1780–1813
22Justus Hiddes Halbertsma'Mister Fryslân'1789–1869
23The Oera Linda BookThe mystified Friesland1867
24Domela and Piter JellesPoverty and charisma1880–1900
25To the 'land of dream and wishing'Emigration to the United States1845–1914
26Margaretha Geertruida ZelleMata Hari1876–1917
27The golden earizerMaterial culture and Frisian identity1840–1900
28ButterThe Frisian AEX index0-now
29Douwe KalmaFriesland and the world1896–1953
30The OfslútdykFriesland connected to Holland1932
31Titus BrandsmaA Roman Frisian1881–1942
32The milk strikeStriking had never been this dangerous1943
33Abe LenstraA Frisian sports hero1920–1985
34KneppelfreedLanguage conflict with baton and water cannon1951
35The AlvestêdetochtCarnival on the ice1909–1997
36Hendrik AlgraThe emancipation of the kleine luyden1920–1950
37Tourism on the WaadUitwaaien on an island1800-now
38The land consolidationThe influence of a Frisian model villageSecond half of the 20th century
39IndustrializationCenter of gravity shifted to the Wâlden1949
40Gerrit BennerA Leeuwarder painter and his Frisian landscape1897–1981
41The Frisian languageThe story of a language 600 BCE-now