Dantumadiel
Dantumadiel is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. Dantumadiel is a rural municipality characterized by economic activity and agriculture.
History
The first time Dantumadiel is mentioned was in a document from 1242. At that time Dantumadiel, or Donthmadeil as it was then known, was a part of the Winninghe district, the northern part of Oostergo. The grietenij Dantumadiel was led by a grietman who was holding office in Rinsumageast and Dantumawâld. The Dutch Municipalities Act of 1851 abolished the grietenijen, which automatically became gemeenten headed by a mayor.Population centres
The Dantumadiel municipality is composed of 11 towns with a total of 19,030 inhabitants in 2014; the towns and their 2014 populations are listed in the table.| Name | Residents |
| Damwâld | 5,640 |
| De Westereen | 5,087 |
| Feanwâlden * | 3,521 |
| Broeksterwâld | 1,168 |
| Rinsumageast | 1,139 |
| Wâlterswâld | 993 |
| Driezum | 974 |
| De Falom | 265 |
| Readtsjerk | 198 |
| Sibrandahûs | 45 |
Source: Website Dantumadiel municipality
* Including Feanwâldsterwâl
Main sights
- Damwâld and Rinsumageast, are home to medieval churches.
- The villages Broeksterwâld Rinsumageast and Readtsjerk are home to mills.
- The Skierstins a medieval fortified house in Feanwâlden.
Notable people
- Maria Petronella Woesthoven a Dutch poet
- Tjeerd Pasma a Dutch modern pentathlete, competed at the 1928 Summer Olympics
- Piet Jongeling journalist, politician and children's books writer
- Theun de Vries writer and poet
- Jannes van der Wal a Dutch/Frisian draughts player
- Syb van der Ploeg musician and composer
- Theo Pijper a Dutch motorcycle speedway rider in the UK