Dokkum

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Dokkum
Flag Seal
Country	Netherlands
Province	Friesland
Population
- Total	c. 13,150

Dokkum is a Dutch fortified town in the municipality of Dongeradeel in the province of Friesland. It has 13,145 inhabitants (per January 1, 2006). The fortifications of Dokkum are well-preserved and are known as the bolwerken ( = bulwarks).

Contents 1 History 2 Transport 3 Sport 4 Tourism 5 People from Dokkum 6 See also 7 References

[edit] History

The best known event in Dokkums history is the assassination of the Anglo-Saxon missionary Saint Boniface in 754. Some Dokkumers participated in the Fifth Crusade after being incited by the preacher Olivier van Keulen in 1214; the crescent in the coat of arms of Dokkum refers to this. Dokkum acquired city rights in 1298. In 1572 Dokkum was sacked by the Spaniards after it had joined the Dutch Revolt. In 1597, the Admiralty of Friesland was established in Dokkum. However, it was moved to Harlingen in 1645.

[edit] Transport

Dokkum had a station (Dokkum-Aalsum) on the North Friesland Railway, which opened in 1901. It became the terminus for passenger services in May 1935 and closed to passengers in July 1936. The station reopened to passengers in May 1940 and closed to passengers in July 1942. Freight services ceased in 1975.

[edit] Sport

In the 200-km skating marathon known as the Elfstedentocht, Dokkum is known as the keerpunt (turning point in Dutch) as it is the place where the speed-skaters have to take the same route as they came to go back to Leeuwarden.

[edit] Tourism

Dokkum has two windmills that are preserved and one of them is sometimes open to the public.^[1][2] They are named Zeldenrust and De Hoop.

[edit] People from Dokkum

Dokkum was the residence for much of her career of the pioneering midwife Catharina Cramer (1656-1746).

[edit] See also

• Dokk'em Open Air

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Coordinates: 53°20′N 6°00′E / 53.333°N 6°E / 53.333; 6

[edit] References

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v • d • e Places with city rights in Friesland Bolsward · Dokkum · Franeker · Harlingen  · Hindeloopen · IJlst · Leeuwarden · Sloten · Sneek · Stavoren · Workum