Witmarsum, Netherlands
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Witmarsum
| native_name = Wytmarsum
| native_name_lang =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline = Witmarsum hervormde kerk 2009.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Witmarsum church
| image_flag = Wytmarsum vlag.svg
| flag_alt =
| image_seal =
| seal_alt =
| image_shield = Wytmarsum wapen.svg
| shield_alt =
| etymology =
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| image_map = Map NL Wûnseradiel Wytmarsum.png
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location in the former Wûnseradiel municipality
| pushpin_map = Netherlands Friesland#Netherlands
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_mapsize = 250
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Netherlands
| coordinates = {{coord|53|6|7|N|5|28|2|E|display=title|region:NL_type:city_source:nlwiki}}
| 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|Súdwest-Fryslân}} Súdwest-Fryslân
| subdivision_type3 =
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| founder =
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| unit_pref = Metric
| area_total_km2 = 12.78
| elevation_footnotes = {{cite web |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |title = Postcodetool for 8748AA |language = nl |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis |access-date = 7 April 2022 }}
| elevation_m = 0.5
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_excel/2021/48/kwb-2021.xls |title=Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 |website=Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=7 April 2022|quote=two entries}}
| population_total = 1,675
| population_density_km2 = auto
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| timezone1 =
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| timezone = CET
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = CEST
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| area_code_type = Dialing code
| area_code = 0517
| iso_code =
| footnotes =
}}
Witmarsum ({{langx|fy|Wytmarsum}}) is a village in the northern Netherlands. It is located in Súdwest-Fryslân, Friesland. Witmarsum had a population of around 1,735 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=13314-13470&HDR=T&STB=G1&VW=T Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2017] - CBS Statline Witmarsum was birthplace of Menno Simons (1496–1561), the leader of what would become the Mennonites.
History
The village was first mentioned in the 13th century as Witmarsum, and means "settlement of Witmer (person)".{{cite web|url=https://etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/witmarsum |title=Witmarsum - (geografische naam) |website=Etymologiebank |access-date=7 April 2022 |language=nl}} Witmarsum is a terp (artificial living hill) village which developed in the early middle ages. The village used to concentrate on the terp, along the canal and along the road from Bolsward to Harlingen.{{cite web|url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/sten009monu06_01/sten009monu06_01_0201.php |title=Witmarssum |author=Ronald Stenvert & Sabine Broekhoven |year=2000 |publisher=Waanders |location=Zwolle |isbn=90 400 9476 4 |language=nl |access-date=7 April 2022}}
The Dutch Reformed church was built in 1633 as a replacement of its medieval predecessor, because it was damaged by a lightning strike. The tower was again replaced in 1819.{{cite web|url=https://www.frieslandwonderland.nl/friesland/plaats/witmarsum |title=Witmarsum |website=Friesland wonderland |access-date=7 April 2022 |language=nl}} Witmarsum contains four churches: a Dutch Reformed church, a Catholic church, a former Reformed Church and a modest Mennonite church.
Witmarsum was home to 659 people in 1840.{{cite web|url=https://www.plaatsengids.nl/witmarsum |title=Witmarsum |website=Plaatsengids |access-date=7 April 2022 |language=nl}} In 1879, an obelisk was erected as a memorial for Menno Simons. In 1880, Witmarsum became the capital of the municipality of Wûnseradiel. In 1911, an electricity factory was opened by a local electricity company for the villages of Witmarsum, Pingjum, Arum en Achlum. In 1919, Witmarsum was connected to the provincial grid, and the building was turned into a transformer.
There are two windmills in the village, De Onderneming and De Pankoekstermolen. Before 2011, the village was part of the Wûnseradiel municipality.
Notable people
- Menno Simons (1496–1561), the leader of the Mennonites{{cite web|url=http://www.biografischportaal.nl/en/persoon/01650172 |title=Menno Simons |website=Biography portal of the Netherlands |access-date=7 April 2022}}
- Hobbe Smith (1862–1942), painter, watercolorist{{cite web|url=https://rkd.nl/nl/explore/artists/73432 |title=Hobbe Smith |website=Nederlands Instituut voor Kunstgeschiedenis |access-date=7 April 2022}}
Gallery
File:20190821 Witmarsum.jpg|Canal view
File:Menno simons Monument,Witmarsum.jpg|Menno Simons monument.
File:Witmarsum - molen De Onderneming.jpg|Windmill De Onderneming in Witmarsum
File:Achtkante grondzeiler schuin van achteren gefotografeerd - AMR Molenfoto - 20539324 - RCE.jpg|De Pankoekstermolen
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|position=left}}
{{Dutch municipality Súdwest-Fryslân}}
{{Authority control}}