Harkema (West Frisian: De Harkema) is a village in the municipality of Achtkarspelen, Friesland province, the Netherlands.

Harkema
De Harkema (West Frisian)
Opeinde
Village
Reformed church
Reformed church
Flag of Harkema
Coat of arms of Harkema
Location in Achtkarspelen municipality
Location in Achtkarspelen municipality
Harkema is located in Friesland
Harkema
Harkema
Location in the Netherlands
Harkema is located in Netherlands
Harkema
Harkema
Harkema (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 53°11′N 6°8′E / 53.183°N 6.133°E / 53.183; 6.133
CountryNetherlands Netherlands
ProvinceFriesland Friesland
MunicipalityAchtkarspelen Achtkarspelen
Area
 • Total
6.53 km2 (2.52 sq mi)
Elevation2 m (7 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total
4,295
 • Density660/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Postal code
9281[1]
Dialing code0512

Harkema is in the eastern part of Friesland, 9 km north of Drachten. It was used to be known as Harkema-Opeinde and as of January 2017, the village had a population of 4,295.[3]

History

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The village was first mentioned in 1530 as Opeyndt. The name Harkema means "settlement of the descendants of Buwe Harkema. In 1972, the name was officially changed from Opeinde to Harkema.[4]

Harkema was originally a peat excavation settlement. The initial linear settlement which mainly consisted of sod houses disappeared in the 18th century, but re-emerged during the 19th century. In 1840, it was home to 484 people. In 1883, a church was opened in a wooden shed, and was replaced in 1891 by a real church. The church was too small, and replaced by the current church in 1913. In the 1960s, Harkema experienced growth and started to attract industry.[5]

Sports

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Harkema is home to the amateur football club, the Harkemase Boys. Cyclist Pieter Weening, who was the first Frisian to win a stage in the Tour de France, is from Harkema just as another former cyclist pro, Wiebren Veenstra, is.

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 29 March 2022. two entries
  2. ^ "Postcodetool for 9281HA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  3. ^ Villages Archived 2017-04-22 at the Wayback Machine - Achtkarspelen (in Dutch)
  4. ^ "Harkema - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Harkema". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 March 2022.
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