Harbor of Laaksum
Laaxum
The harbor of Laaksum is an idyllic spot in Southwest Friesland. We often refer to it as the smallest fishing harbor in Europe.
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Kunstwerk Laaksum | Hendrik Elings
Kunstwerk Laaksum | Hendrik Elings
Een kunstwerk van Hendrik Elings. Dit is een schilderij laat de haven van Laaksum zien en is uit een reeks van kunstwerken die bij de ijsbanen van de Ijsbaankunstroute door heel Fryslân staan.
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Gedicht: Iisbaan yn ‘e maaitiid | Syds Wiersma
Gedicht: Iisbaan yn ‘e maaitiid | Syds Wiersma
IISBAAN YN ‘E MAAITIID
de besiele stilte
fan it ferlitten hillichdom
it is maaitiid mar bûten de tiid
briedt it fersûpte gers
mei nij grien
de tút fan bestimming deryn
yn it sin bringer fan
it streekjen it frij fielen ûnierdsk
njonken
it knoffeljen it minsklik mislearjen
ah jasses
hakkekruk dreamt fan iisprinsesse
yn in nije winter tute
as by in âlde hit de wrâld in dûnsflier
dy kâldreade blommewangen
ûnder har mûtse fan suvere ingelewol wei
te plôkjen
de tút
de dream oer de tút
de tút fan de dream oer de tút
hakkekruk knoffelet troch
de hope op de tút fan de dream oer de tút
waard in wynwak
drûget op, lit de feiten sprekke:
ferlitten timpel, dea iis
gjin prinsesse by machte
The harbor of Laaxum (Laaksum in Frisian) is an idyllic spot in Southwest Friesland. It's often referred to as the smallest fishing harbor in Europe, consisting of a harbor, several fishing houses, a farmhouse, and a smokehouse. Only a handful of people live here.
In 1345, the village played a role in the 'Battle of Warns': an army from Count William IV of Holland landed here to attack the Frisians.
Laaxum used to be a genuine fishing village, focusing on catching flounder and later eel. When the Afsluitdijk was built in 1932, it marked the end of fishing in this area. Only two brothers remained, continuing to fish on the IJsselmeer, with their boat moored in the harbor of Laaxum.
Due to its beautiful location on the dike and the IJsselmeer, Laaxum is a sight to see. On a lovely summer day, it attracts cyclists, motorcyclists, and other day trippers.
In the former smokehouse, a square building where herring used to be salted and smoked, there is now a fish restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious seafood meal.
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The liberation of Friesland
The liberation of Friesland
By 18 April, the whole province of Friesland had been liberated, except for the Wadden Islands. Compared to other provinces, there was little fighting in Friesland. Overall, the few thousand German troops who had been unable to escape from Friesland were defeated by the Canadians relatively quickly.
The commander of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Lieutenant Colonel Landell, praised the actions of the resistance by stating that "Friesland liberated herself". While that may be a bit of an exaggeration, the actions of the Frisian resistance undoubtedly accelerated the liberation. And reduced the number of casualties on the Allied side.
At least 31 resistance fighters lost their lives in confrontations with German troops and their Dutch accomplices. At least eleven Canadians and one Frenchman were killed on the Allied side. Dozens of civilian victims were also killed in the fighting and shelling. The number of casualties on the German side is not known, but it is believed that the number ran into hundreds. With 320 destroyed and 4000 damaged homes and 80 destroyed bridges, Friesland was materially the least damaged province of the Netherlands.
Many German soldiers fled towards the western part of the country. The retreating German troops gathered mostly in Harlingen, Makkum and Lemmer. From there, they tried to get away by boat across the IJsselmeer or via the Afsluitdijk to North Holland. The Wadden Islands also became a refuge for collaborators and German soldiers. Here, liberation was longer in coming.
On the island of Terschelling, the last German troops were disarmed by a British artillery regiment on 29 May. Two days later, the British crossed from Terschelling to Vlieland, and the liberation of that island was also a fact. Ameland was liberated on 3 June.
Personnel from the infamous Scholtenhuis, the SD headquarters in Groningen, had entrenched themselves on Schiermonnikoog. After their departure on 31 May, there was a celebration on the island, in spite of the six hundred members of the occupying troops who still were there. Only on 11 June did the last German soldiers leave Schiermonnikoog, and then the whole province of Friesland was free.
Most Canadian units that had liberated Friesland continued the battle in Groningen and North Germany after 18 April. Their war ended on 8 May 1945, when the surrender of all German armed forces became effective.
