Grietenij
Encyclopedia
A grietenij was a forerunner to the gemeente or municipality
in Frisia
, particularly in
Friesland
, and also in Groningen
which are now a part of the Netherlands
. From the end of the
16th century until 1851, there were a total of 30 grietenijen in Friesland. The term grietenij means the
administrative district of a grietman
. The term grietman means a man who greets. The
grietenijen were found in the counties of Oostergo, Westergo and Zevenwouden. In the municipality law in 1851, the term grietenij was changed to gemeente or municipality, and the term grietman was changed to bergemeester or mayor. This resulted in consistent terms being used throughout the Netherlands.
and directors of the eleven Frisian cities formed a council that admitted to its
slow decision making process. A popular explanation for the expression op zijn elfendertigst, which
means "at a smail's pace", is that that would be taken to these meetings. In reality, the term comes from the
weaving industry.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in Frisia
Frisia
Frisia is a coastal region along the southeastern corner of the North Sea, i.e. the German Bight. Frisia is the traditional homeland of the Frisians, a Germanic people who speak Frisian, a language group closely related to the English language...
, particularly in
Friesland
Friesland
Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
, and also in Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
which are now a part of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. From the end of the
16th century until 1851, there were a total of 30 grietenijen in Friesland. The term grietenij means the
administrative district of a grietman
Grietman
A grietman is partly a forerunner of the current rural mayor in the province of Friesland, and partly the forerunner of a judge. The area of jurisdiction was the municipality or gemeente...
. The term grietman means a man who greets. The
grietenijen were found in the counties of Oostergo, Westergo and Zevenwouden. In the municipality law in 1851, the term grietenij was changed to gemeente or municipality, and the term grietman was changed to bergemeester or mayor. This resulted in consistent terms being used throughout the Netherlands.
Slow decision making
The 30 grietmanGrietman
A grietman is partly a forerunner of the current rural mayor in the province of Friesland, and partly the forerunner of a judge. The area of jurisdiction was the municipality or gemeente...
and directors of the eleven Frisian cities formed a council that admitted to its
slow decision making process. A popular explanation for the expression op zijn elfendertigst, which
means "at a smail's pace", is that that would be taken to these meetings. In reality, the term comes from the
weaving industry.
List of grietenijen
The list contains the names of the thirty grietenijen from the 18th century.- AchtkarspelenAchtkarspelen-History:The name Achtkarspelen is derived from the original eight kerspelen within the grietenij, namely: Augustinusga, Buitenpost, Drogeham, De Kooten, Kortwoude, Lutkepost, Surhuizum and Twijzel. Achtkarspelen held a separate status within Friesland for many years...
- AengwirdenAengwirdenAengwirden is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Friesland. It covered the area around the village of Tjalleberd. It existed until July 1, 1934.The area of the former municipality is now a part of the municipality of Heerenveen....
- BaarderadeelBaarderadeelBaarderadeel is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Friesland, southwest of Leeuwarden. Since 1984, the area has been a part of the municipality of Littenseradiel.Some of the larger villages in Baarderadeel are Winsum, Mantgum, and Easterlittens....
- BarradeelBarradeelBarradeel is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Friesland. It was located north of Harlingen and Franeker, and is now largely a part of Franekeradeel. The municipality existed until 1984....
- DantumadeelDantumadeelDantumadiel is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. Dantumadiel is a rural municipality characterized by agriculture.- History :...
- DoniawerstalDoniawerstalDoniawerstal was a municipality in southwest Friesland, south of Sneek. It consisted mainly of grassland and lakes. Its capital was Langweer. The municipality was dissolved in 1984; part went to Wymbritseradiel and part went to Skarsterlân. At the time of its dissolution it had its Dutch name; in...
- Ferwerderadeel
- FranekeradeelFranekeradeelFranekeradeel is a municipality in the northern Netherlands. It was created in 1984 by combining an earlier Franekeradeel municipality with the city of Franeker and parts of the former municipality of Barradeel...
- Gaasterland
- Haskerland
- Hemelumer Oldephaert and NoordwoldeNoordwoldeNoordwolde is a village in Weststellingwerf in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around 3789 citizens .Traditionally known as the reed weaving village of the Netherlands, today Noordwolde has a lot more to offer than its rich history and the renowned National Museum of...
(later: Hemelumer Oldeferd) - Hennaarderadeel
- Het BildtHet Bildthet Bildt is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands; its capital is Sint Annaparochie. As of 1 November 2006 it had a population of 10,975. Het Bildt has 15.4 kilometers of coastline...
- Idaarderadeel
- Kollumerland and Nieuwkruisland
- LeeuwarderadeelLeeuwarderadeelLeeuwarderadeel is a municipality in the northern Netherlands. Its capital is Stiens.- Population centres :Bartlehiem, Britsum, Cornjum, Finkum, Hijum, Jelsum, Oude Leije, Stiens.- Bartlehiem :...
- LemsterlandLemsterland- Population centres :Bantega, Delfstrahuizen, Echten, Echtenerbrug, Eesterga, Follega, Lemmer, Oosterzee, Oosterzee-Buren.-External links:** ----...
- MenaldumadeelMenaldumadeel- Population centres :Population as of 1 January 2007:Beetgum , Beetgumermolen , Berlikum , Blessum , Boksum , Deinum , Dronrijp , Engelum , Kleaster-Anjum , Marssum , Menaldum , Schingen , Slappeterp , and Wier .- External links :*...
- Oost-Dongeradeel
- OpsterlandOpsterlandOpsterland is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands.-Population centres:Bakkeveen, Beetsterzwaag, Frieschepalen, Gorredijk, Hemrik, Jonkerslân, Langezwaag, Lippenhuizen, Luxwoude, Nij Beets, Olterterp, Siegerswoude, Terwispel, Tijnje, Ureterp, Wijnjewoude.-Twin towns —...
- RauwerderhemRauwerderhemRauwerderhem is a former municipality in the province of Friesland. It existed until 1984, now named Boornsterhem. City: Irnsum....
- Schoterland
- SmallingerlandSmallingerlandSmallingerland is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands.-Population centres:Boornbergum, De Tike, De Veenhoop, De Wilgen, Drachten , Drachtstercompagnie, Goëngahuizen, Houtigehage, Kortehemmen, Nijega, Opeinde, Oudega, Rottevalle and Smalle Ee.-History:The name...
- Stellingwerf-Oosteinde (later: OoststellingwerfOoststellingwerfOoststellingwerf is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands.It is one of the municipalities of Friesland, where the spoken language is not West Frisian; instead, Stellingwerfs, a dialect of Dutch Low Saxon, is spoken here....
) - Stellingwerf-Westeinde (later: WeststellingwerfWeststellingwerfWeststellingwerf is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands.It is one of the municipalities of Friesland, where the spoken language is not West Frisian; instead, Stellingwerfs, a dialect of Dutch Low Saxon, is spoken here....
) - Tietjerksteradeel
- Utingeradeel
- West-Dongeradeel
- Wonseradeel
- Wymbritseradeel