Grou
{{More citations needed|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Grou
| native_name = Grouw
| native_name_lang =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline = Sint Pieterkerk2 Grou.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = St Peter's Church
| image_flag = Grou vlag.svg
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| image_shield = Grou wapen.svg
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| image_map = Map NL Boarnsterhim Grou.png
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location in the former Boarnsterhim municipality
| pushpin_map = Netherlands Friesland#Netherlands
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_mapsize = 250
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Netherlands
| coordinates = {{coord|53.10|N|5.83|E|display=title}}
| coor_pinpoint =
| coordinates_footnotes =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Netherlands
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon|Friesland}} Friesland
| subdivision_type2 = Municipality
| subdivision_name2 = {{flagicon|Leeuwarden}} Leeuwarden
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| unit_pref = Metric
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| population_as_of = 2017
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| population_total = 5655
| population_density_km2 = auto
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| timezone1 = CET
| utc_offset1 = +1
| timezone1_DST = CEST
| utc_offset1_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 9000-01
| area_code_type = Telephone area
| area_code = 0566
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Grou ({{langx|nl|Grouw}}{{cite web |url=http://namen.taalunie.org/friese-namen |title=Friese namen |last=Taalunie |year=2020 |language=nl |access-date= 31 January 2020}}) is a town in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and had around 5655 citizens in January 2017.[http://statline.cbs.nl/Statweb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=83765NED&D1=0-1,3-4,8,11,14,28,31-32,99-104&D2=8740-8880&HDR=T&STB=G1&VW=T Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2017] - CBS Statline Since 2014 Grou is part of the municipality of Leeuwarden.
The town is located on the {{ill|Pikmeer|fy|Pikmar}} lake and the Prinses Margriet Canal.
Heineken operated a distribution centre for Friesland in Grou for 25 years until 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.degrouster.nl/?show=article&article_id=886|title=De Grouster - Nieuws|website=De Grouster}}
It used to be the capital of the municipality of {{ill|Idaarderadeel|fy|Idaarderadiel}} before the reorganization of municipalities in 1984, and capital of the municipality of Boarnsterhim until 2014.
While the rest of the Netherlands celebrates Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) on December 5, Grou instead celebrates a unique local variation of this children's holiday known as {{ill|Sint-Piter|fy}} on February 21. In local lore Sint Piter is a distinct character separate from Saint Nicholas, and was historically known as the patron saint for local fishermen.{{cite web|url=https://sintpiter.nl/geschiedenis/|title=Geschiedenis – Sint Piter|website=Sint Piter}}
A nickname for the town is Tsiisferdûnsers, meaning cheese dancers, from a story where a fiddler was paid with cheese at a village dance.{{Citation needed|date=August 2017}}
Transport
File:Akwadukt Mid-Fryslan 02.JPG
The town is located at an exit on the A32 motorway. There is a ferry across the canal called Veerpont de Burd that connects the de Burd island. The Grou-Jirnsum railway station is on the Staatslijn A (Arnhem - Leeuwarden) line.
Population
class="wikitable"
! 1954 | 1959 | 1964 | 1969 | 1973 | 1990 | 1999 |
3453 | 3522 | 3880 | 4129 | 4600 | 5316 | 5472 |
2002 || 2004 || 2005 || 2006 || 2007 || 2008 || 2009 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5731 | 5916 | 5875 | 5769 | 5737 | 5673 | 5634 |
2011 | ||||||
5623 |
Notable births
- {{ill|Pibo Ovittius fan Abbema|fy}} (ca. 1542-1618), clergyman
- Brothers Halbertsma
- Eeltsje Hiddes Halbertsma (1797-1858), physician, poet and writer
- Joast Hiddes Halbertsma (1789-1869), Mennonite minister, writer and poet
- Tsjalling Hiddes Halbertsma (1792–1852), merchant and poet
- Atje Keulen-Deelstra (1938-2013), speed skater
- Haitske Pijlman (born 1954), speed skater
Sport
An artificial ice rink (Glice) invented by Eric Sinnema was opened for public use in 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.nu.nl/wetenschap/1351292/wereldprimeur-in-grou-met-kunststof-ijsbaan.html|title=Wereldprimeur in Grou met kunststof ijsbaan - NU - Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl|website=www.nu.nl}}
Gallery
File:Grou1.jpg|Houses near the harbour with St. Peter's church in the background
File:Grouw - Haven.jpg|Grou harbour
File:Oud schilderij Grou.jpg|New quai 1850
Notable buildings
- St. Peter's church
- Three restored windmills survive in Grou, De Bird, De Borgmolen and De Haensmolen.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline}}
- [http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/grouw_friesland_netherlands Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia entry for Grouw]
- [http://www.degrouster.nl de Grouster - local news]
{{Dutch municipality Leeuwarden}}
{{Authority control}}