Langweer

Langweer used to only be reached by water. It was backed by swampland. In 1856 it became connected to the outside world by the Brédyk via Sint Nicolaasga. Johan Vegelinsoord of Claerbergen organized this work which involved treeplanting and drainage.{{cite web|url=http://www.skarsterlan.nl/skarsterlan.shtml?ch=TXT&id=2898|title=Ingeklemd door water|access-date=2009-06-15}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

Before 2014, Langweer was part of the Skarsterlân municipality and before 1984 it was the municipal seat of Doniawerstal.

Since the 1990s Langweer has become a favorite town of tourists because of its picturesque streets and watersport opportunities. One of its main events is Skutsjesilen, a sailing race that takes place every summer.

The name Langweer derives from the Frisian name Langwar. War is an old Frisian term for a parcel of land (like English ward) so the name meant long lots, for the shape of the paddocks.{{cite web|url=http://www.skarsterlan.nl/skarsterlan.shtml?ch=TXT&id=2897|title=De naam Langweer|access-date=2009-06-15}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

The village symbol which is found on the flag is a swan, possibly derived from the right of farmers to shoot swans.{{cite web|url=http://www.frieschdagblad.nl/index.asp?artID=35587|title=Kerk met 'symfonie van eikenhout'|work=Geloof & Kerk|publisher=Friesch Dagblad|date=2007-08-22|access-date=2009-06-16}}

The Weversstreek was a street where weavers lived. This is the oldest part of the town. The block between Weversstreek and Stevenshoek used to be full of one room workers cottages.{{cite web|url=http://www.skarsterlan.nl/skarsterlan.shtml?ch=TXT&id=2903|title=De Weversstreek}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Between Langweerder Wielen (the lake) and Weversstreek and the Buorren (a street) was a zone called De Greate Gaest. Originally this was a meadow. From 1907 to 1965 the Van Der Leij factory operated, drying grass, and pressing oil. This became the De Greate Gaest cafe, and later a service centre. The buildings were demolished in the 1990s to make way for a waterside housing development.{{cite web|url=http://www.skarsterlan.nl/skarsterlan.shtml?ch=TXT&id=2904|archive-url=https://archive.today/20071019015933/http://www.skarsterlan.nl/skarsterlan.shtml?ch=TXT&id=2904|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-10-19|title=De Greate Gaest}}{{cite web|url=https://www.visitlangweer.nl/de-greate-gaest/ |title=Greate Gaest |website=Visit Langweerk |access-date=29 March 2022 |language=nl}}

Important buildings include the Hervormde Kerk (Dutch Reformed Church) of Langweer built in 1777 on the site of three earlier churches. This church is unusually decorated compared to others from the 18th century, and has a swan on its spire. Inside is one of the best church organs in Friesland, constructed by Lambertus van Dam in 1784. A five paneled pulpit was preserved from the previous building. This dates from 1684 and made by Benedictus Jans. The earliest church was built around 1200, but deliberately burned down in 1517 by invaders. There was an unsuccessful attempt to rebuild from the remains. A successfully built half sized church appeared in 1663.{{cite web|url=http://www.skarsterlan.nl/skarsterlan.shtml?ch=TXT&id=2902|title=De Nederlands Hervormde Kerk|access-date=2009-06-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20071019015933/http://www.skarsterlan.nl/skarsterlan.shtml?ch=TXT&id=2902|archive-date=2007-10-19}}

The {{ill|Osinga State|fy|Osingastate (Langwar)}} was built for Syts van Osinga, grietman of Doniawerstal (Mayor) from 1619 to 1652. It lies to the north of the church. It became the town hall for the municipality. In 1829 the last grietman to live there, Schelte Hessel Roorda of Eysinga locked up the building and left it for thirty years. In 1860 it was found to be untouched with clothes lying on the floor and cups on the table.{{cite web|url=http://www.skarsterlan.nl/skarsterlan.shtml?ch=TXT&id=2899|title=Osinga State}} But was demolished and rebuilt in 1939. Langweer is no longer the municipal capital, so there is no longer a town hall.{{cite web|url=http://www.stinseninfriesland.nl/OsingaState.htm|title=Osinga State|access-date=2009-06-14}}

The Orangerie was a farm house that featured exotic plants and flowers. It was on the side of the cross town Wymerts canal, which is now filled in.{{cite web|url=http://www.skarsterlan.nl/skarsterlan.shtml?ch=TXT&id=2900|title=De Orangerie|access-date=2009-06-14}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

On the west side of the town was another farmhouse called Douma State. It dates from the sixteenth century. It included another two buildings, the Vechthuis (battle house) and the Douma Stins, which was burned down by Burgundian soldiers in 1517. The farm house was demolished in 1845, but rebuilt in part as an inn called Het Wapen van Friesland. It became a dairy, which was later merged with the milk factory at St. Nicolaasga. The Herberg De Wielen is located here.{{cite web|url=http://www.skarsterlan.nl/skarsterlan.shtml?ch=TXT&id=2901|archive-url=https://archive.today/20071019015933/http://www.skarsterlan.nl/skarsterlan.shtml?ch=TXT&id=2901|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-10-19|title=Douma State|access-date=2009-06-14}}

De Waag was a weigh house with market that was used up to 1906. Farmers brought cheese and butter to sell. A butter barrel industry and a tannery developed in the town to make money off the farmers.{{cite web|url=http://www.skarsterlan.nl/skarsterlan.shtml?ch=TXT&id=2905|title=De Waag|access-date=2009-06-14}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} After this it was used as a warehouse and then as a hairdresser.:commons:Waag (Langweer)

Regt Huys was a courthouse built around 1600. A judge sat there every Thursday. It was rebuilt in 1766 with original wood used to construct a holding cell in the tower. Later it was used as the town hall for Doniawerstal until 1940. During World War II it was a distribution centre for ration tokens. In the late 2000s the building operated as a library.{{cite web|url=http://www.skarsterlan.nl/skarsterlan.shtml?ch=TXT&id=2906|title=Regt Huys}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Waag Langweer 01.JPG|Waag

Sweachmermolen Boornzwaag 08.JPG|De Sweachmermolen

LangweerMap.png|Map

The windmill De Sweachmermolen is a combined corn mill and drainage mill. It has been restored so that it can function as a drainage mill and is held in reserve for use in times of emergency. The mill is also used as a holiday home.

The Openbare Basisschool (OBS) t'Swannestee is a public primary school at Bredyk 1.{{cite web|url=http://www.obstswannestee.nl/|title=t'Swannestee home page}}

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{{Dutch municipality De Fryske Marren}}

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Category:De Fryske Marren

Category:Populated places in Friesland