Fryslân
Leeuwarden
On Wilhelminaplein, the Fries Museum occupies a modern building. On Schoenmakersperk, Natuurmuseum Fryslân is housed in a former orphanage. These different buildings give a museum day in Leeuwarden its own rhythm. One visit centres on art, history and the Frisian landscape; the other explores nature through displays about marine mammals, evolution and the work of taxidermists.
At the nature museum, the building’s earlier role remains visible too. The orphanage schoolroom and the governors’ room tell its history alongside the galleries about animals and plants. A visit is therefore also about the place in which a museum is housed. The example day combines these two museums, leaving time for lunch and travel between their addresses.
Outside this route are two other ways of preserving history. Dekema State in Jelsum is furnished to evoke the life of a prominent Frisian family around 1930. The Oldehove, by contrast, remained unfinished: the leaning tower never reached its intended height. Each has its own visiting season. The winter closure of the tower and the seasonal closure of the house in Jelsum make them separate additions to the museum day.
Frisian art and history
Fries Museum
The Fries Museum presents Frisian art and history and the development of the landscape. The Fries Verzetsmuseum, covering the war years 1940–1945, is part of the museum. A visit covers a selection from the displays.
Wilhelminaplein 92, 8911 BS Leeuwarden
A day in Leeuwarden
This example fits an ordinary Tuesday to Sunday outside closure dates. The Fries Museum opens at 11:00. An hour and a half between visits allows lunch and travel. The afternoon at Natuurmuseum Fryslân fits both weekday and weekend opening hours.
11:00–13:00 · Fries Museum
The morning starts at the Fries Museum, Wilhelminaplein 92. Art, history and landscape provide the subjects for a morning’s selection. The Fries Verzetsmuseum can add a particular focus within the same visit.
14:30–16:30 · Natuurmuseum Fryslân
After lunch comes Natuurmuseum Fryslân at Schoenmakersperk 2. The Whale Hall, Darwin’s Attic and the Open Studio offer different approaches to nature. The orphanage schoolroom and governors’ room preserve the building’s history.
Map and localities
Localities
- Lekkum
- Miedum
- Snakkerburen
- Hempens
- Teerns
- Swichum
- Wytgaard
- Baard
- Bears
- Easterlittens
- Hilaard
- Húns
- Jellum
- Jorwert
- Leons
- Mantgum
- Weidum
- Eagum
- Friens
- Idaerd
- Jirnsum
- Reduzum
- Wergea
- Warstiens
- Warten
- Alde Leie
- Britsum
- Feinsum
- Hijum
- Jelsum
- Koarnjum
- Stiens
- Wirdum
- Grou
- Leeuwarden
- Goutum
More about Leeuwarden
Construction of the Oldehove began in 1529. The tower started leaning during building work; construction stopped in 1533 and never resumed. In 2026, the visiting season ran from 23 May to 24 October. The tower closes for winter. Restoration in 2026 also puts it in scaffolding. The photograph shows the tower in 2018.
Key figures and transport
Population
130,162
Area
255.06 km²
Water
17.69 km²
Localities
36
Reference date · 1 January 2026
Stations
Search Holland Magazine
A house outside the city
Dekema State in Jelsum
Dekema State at Dekemawei 5 presents a house furnished around the life of a prominent Frisian family around 1930. The museum house opens at weekends from April to October, 13:00–17:00, with additional summer opening and holiday exceptions. It closes from November. The garden remains accessible daily, with seasonal hours. Jelsum is a separate visit outside the museum day in the city.