Grou
| Grou | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Town | |||
| |||
 | |||
| Country |
 Netherlands | ||
| Province |
 Friesland | ||
| Municipality |
 Leeuwarden | ||
| Population | |||
| • Total | c. 5,700 | ||
Grou (Dutch: Grouw) is a town in the province Fryslân of the Netherlands and has around 5737 citizens (2007). Since 2014 is part of the municipality of Leeuwarden.
The town is located on the Pikmeer lake and the Prinses Margrietkanaal. Heineken operated a distribution centre for Fryslân in Grou for 25 years until 2004.[1]
It used to be the capital of municipality of Idaarderadeel before the reorganization of municipalities in 1984, and of the municipality of Boarnsterhim until 2014. Grou celebrates Sint Piter as a holiday on February 21, which differs from most of the Netherlands.
A nickname for the town is Tsiisferdûnsers, meaning cheese dancers, from a story where a fiddler was paid with cheese at a village dance.
Transport
The town is located at an exit on the A32. There is a ferry across the canal called Veerpont de Burd that connects the de Burd island. The Grou-Jirnsum railway station is on the Staatslijn A (Arnhem - Leeuwarden) line.
Population
| 1954 | 1959 | 1964 | 1969 | 1973 | 1990 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3453 | 3522 | 3880 | 4129 | 4600 | 5316 | 5472 |
| 2002 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| 5731 | 5916 | 5875 | 5769 | 5737 | 5673 | 5634 |
| 2011 | ||||||
| 5623 |
Notable births
- Eeltsje Halbertsma (1797-1858), doctor and writer
- Joast Halbertsma, poet
- Atje Keulen-Deelstra (1938-2013), speed skater
- Pibo Ovittius van Abbema (ca. 1542-1618), clergyman
- Haitske Pijlman (born 1954), speed skater
- Catherinus Smeding, painter
Sport
An artificial ice rink (Glice) invented by Eric Sinnema was opened for public use in 2007.[2]
Notable buildings
- St. Peter's church
- Three restored windmills survive in Grou, De Bird, De Borgmolen and De Haensmolen.
References
External links
Coordinates: 53°06′N 5°50′E / 53.10°N 5.83°E
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grouw. |