Leeuwarden is a city in the Netherlands, the capital of the province of Friesland, the center of the community of the same name.
Watch online camera in Leeuwarden
History
The area where today's Leeuwarden is located has been inhabited since the 10th century (although the remains of buildings dating from the 2nd century have recently been discovered). A diploma giving Leeuwarden city privileges was awarded in 1435. Located on Middelsee (the mouth of a river that flows into the sea), the city became a major trading center, but after the river dried up in the 15th century, Leeuwarden fell into decay. In 1901, there were 32,203 inhabitants in the city.