Friday 25 February 2011

Our own Elfstedentocht: Stop # 4 Dokkum

(si prefieres leer ésto en español, sigue este enlace)
One of the Frisian cities that I intend to visit again next spring or summer is the town of Dokkum, which is the northernmost city in the Netherlands and one of oldest towns in the Elfstedentocht - the famous long-distance skating race that takes place in eleven cities in the province of Friesland. 

Closely linked to the city of Dokkum is the name of a saint: Boniface, or as he is known in Dutch, St. Bonifatius. He was a missionary who propagated Christianity in the Frankish Empire and reached what is today the Dutch province of Friesland. It was here in Dokkum in the year 754 where St. Bonifatius suffered martyrdom at the hands of the local inhabitants. 
Today,  spread throughout the city, there are reminders of this historical figure, such as the neo-Gothic church of St. Bonifatius -one of the seven that architect Pierre Kuypers built in Friesland. Also, in the outskirts of the town, you can find St. Bonifatiuskapel and well, which is said to have healing powers.
St. Boniface's Church, built in the 1870s by P. Cuypers.

St. Bonifatius chapel and well, in the outskirts of Dokkum.
The mitre in the middle of this square represents the path followed by St. Bonifatius during his mission in Friesland.

In this well-preserved fortified town, the rich past is still visible. Dokkum had until the 18th century a direct connection to the sea and was for a long time an important harbour.
At the Grootdiep, the former harbour of the city and gateway to the sea, we can still today see the Admiraliteitshuis, vestige of a time when the Admiralty of Groningen and Friesland was housed here and whose purpose was to protect ocean trade. In 1963 the building was converted into a regional museum showing mainly popular regional art, collections of ceramics and textiles from the Golden Age and a very interesting exhibition about St. Boniface, his work and life.

The Admiralty Wharf at Dokkum.

Another interesting building that one should not miss while walking around Dokkum is the exceptional Town Hall, which dates from 1610 and was restored and extended or renewed in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Dokkum old Stadhuis is situated in the Kleindiep, which is also the turning point of the Elfstedentocht race.


At the local Tourist Information Office or VVV (address and website below) you can find different walking routes which will take you along the most important sights; but you can of course just walk around on your own, rambling along the canals and cute winding lanes or over the bolwerk, which was the old bastion of the city.
The Hope mill, dating from 1849.
Kids from Dokkum meeting for a chat on a Sunday afternoon.

A lady tending her garden in Dokkum.
Dokkum is also an ideal place to explore the area around this part of the country as well. Northeast Friesland is characterised by charming villages built on man-made mounds - the terp (mound) villages. To the south of the city begins the Frisian Woodland with its special landscape of half-open vistas crisscrossed by hedgerows and to the north and west, the wide open sea mudflats and the Lauwersmeer National Park, a unique area that offers both, protection for the natural habitat and plenty of opportunities for enjoying contact wih nature and water.

The Kleindiep canal or gateway with a view of the Zeldenrust mill.

Pretty houses by the canal in the city of Dokkum.


















You can find my posts about three other Frisian cities here:
Stop # 1: Leeuwaarden
Stop #2: Harlingen

Stop #3: IJlst


Useful addresses:

Tourist information (for maps, routes, etc.)
Regio VVV Lauwersland
Op de Fetze 13
9101 Dokkum

Bonifatius Chapel and well (for information on visiting times, etc.)
Bronlaan 12, 9101 VS Dokkum - Phone nr.:06 – 109 14 645
Website

Museum Dokkum (Het Admiraliteitshuis)
Diepswal 27, 9101 Dokkum - Phone nr.: 0519 - 293134
Website

20 comments:

Melissa said...

We really have to make it to the North at some point!!!

Aledys Ver said...

Ohh you should! You could combine a visit to some of the Frisian cities with a stay in one of the islands, like Terschelling or Almeland... you'd enjoy it!

Invader_Stu said...

Although I've not been to Dokkum yet I can say that Frisian is amazing place. I really like it up there :)

Aledys Ver said...

You should certainly pay a visit, Stu - you are not too far, besides!

Ana O'Reilly said...

There's so much history in every European town!
My favourite photo is that of the lady tending her garden :)

Aledys Ver said...

Yes, I love that photo too! :D

Argimira. said...

Que bien que vas a España !!!
Yo quiero ir unos días a Sevilla ahora en Marzo.
A ver si coincidimos !!!

Un beso



Mimi

Alison said...

It really does look so charming! I like the Bonifatius Chapel; there's something almost modern about the simple, clean lines and those fantastic arches. The mitre in the square is such an interesting way to mark the route, too.

Katie said...

The Dutch architectural aesthetic really appeals to me. I can imagine how enjoyable it would be just to walk along the streets of this town, gazing at the buildings. And the photo with the woman in her garden is enchanting. :)

Aledys Ver said...

Thanks, Katie!
I still find stepped façades really charming - I take millions of photos of them all the time! :D

Aledys Ver said...

Yes, the chapel is a modern construction.
The weather was far from ideal to keep walking around that day, but I would've liked to follow the markings related to Bonifatius. I don't know if they're still there, though.

Aledys Ver said...

Gracias Mimí! Así que te vas ahora a Sevilla!! Qué bueno!!! Besos

BLOGitse said...

Hello my blog friend!
Greetings from Casa again. Our Sydney holiday was great but too short. :)
I'd love to visit Holland again one day. Dokkum sounds very interesting.
Great post, thanks for sharing!

Happy Women's Day!

Aledys Ver said...

Glad to see you back, I've just seen your photos of Sydney and they're lovely!
Do come to Holland one day! Despite being a small country, there's a lot to see.
Happy [belated] Women's Day to you, too!

BLOGitse said...

I will if you promise to come to Helsinki!? :)

Aledys Ver said...

I'd certainly love to! :)

BLOGitse said...

Is that yes? :)

Aledys Ver said...

It most surely is! Now that you'll be back in Fin. I suppose you'll be entincing us, readers, with your posts about beautiful places to visit there, won't you. hehe

BLOGitse said...

Great! We'll 'talk' about this later in the spring...
I'll be very busy the first couple of weeks - moving, cleaning, painting...
I'll shoot Helsinki shots when the weather is good :) I have still a lot to post Sydney images before that...
Have a gooood Sunday!

Aledys Ver said...

Yes, I can imagine you having lots to do nowadays! It's not like you're moving house within the same city...
Looking forward to seeing more of your Sydney photos and of course, when they come, the Helsinki ones as well!