Aalsum, Friesland

Aalsum (West Frisian: Ealsum) is a village in the Dutch province of Friesland.[3] It is located in the municipality Noardeast-Fryslân, about 1 km north of Dokkum. It had a population of around 125 in January 2017[4]

Aalsum
Ealsum
Village
Aalsum church
Aalsum church
Flag of Aalsum
Flag
Coat of arms of Aalsum
Coat of arms
Location in the former Dongeradeel municipality
Location in the former Dongeradeel municipality
Aalsum is located in Friesland
Aalsum
Aalsum
Location in the Netherlands
Aalsum is located in Netherlands
Aalsum
Aalsum
Aalsum (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 53°20′18″N 6°00′16″E
CountryNetherlands Netherlands
ProvinceFriesland Friesland
MunicipalityNoardeast-Fryslân
Area
[1]
 • Total4.39 km2 (1.69 sq mi)
Elevation
[2]
0.5 m (1.6 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total130
 • Density30/km2 (77/sq mi)
Postal code
9121[1]
Dialing code0519

Aalsum is built on a partially excavated terp, around a church originally dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria, which dates back to approximately 1200 AD.[5]

History

The village was first mentioned in 944 as Atlesheim, and means "settlement of the people of Athal (person)".[6] In 1840, Aalsum was home to 306 people.[7] Aalsum is a terp (artificial living mound) village. The terp dated from the 5th to 7th century, and was 5 metres (16 ft) high.[8]

The St. Catherine church dates from the 12th century. The nave was enlarged around 1500. In 1843, the tower and western wing were demolished. The wing was restored, but however the tower was replaced by a simple belfry. In 1840, Aalsum was home to 306 people.[7]

During the 1880s, most of the terp was excavated. During the excavation, pottery, gold and bronze jewelry and 27 Carolingian denarii (silver coins) were discovered.[8]

Aalsum used to have a railway station (Dokkum-Aalsum) on the North Friesland Railway, which opened in 1901. It became the terminus for passenger services in May 1935 and closed to passengers in July 1936.[9]

In 1965, the monument Droppinghiem was revealed, because the farm of Veeninga was used for weapon drops for the Dutch resistance. In the autumn of 1944, 86 containers of weapons, ammunition and explosives were dropped at the farm.[10] Until 2019, the village was part of the Dongeradeel municipality.[7]

Notable inhabitants
  • Rink van der Velde (1932–2001), writer and journalist[11]
  • Farm in Aalsum
    Farm in Aalsum
  • Welcome to Aalsum
    Welcome to Aalsum
  • Excavation of the terp (c. 1884)
    Excavation of the terp (c. 1884)
  • Drawing of Aalsum (early 19th century)
    Drawing of Aalsum (early 19th century)

References
  1. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  2. "Postcodetool for 9121CA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  3. "Aaslum Friesland website". Archived from the original on 28 September 2020.
  4. Aantal inwoners per woonplaats in Dongeradeel op 1 januari 2017 Archived 2017-10-21 at the Wayback Machine - Dongeradeel
  5. L.PIGORINI, I terpen della Frisia, "Bullettino di Paletnologia Italiana VII, 1881, pp. 110-122; L.PIGORINI, Le prime città della Frisia, "Nuova Antologia", n. 60, 1881, pp. 225–235; R. MUNRO, Notes of a visit to a terp mound at Aalzum, in North Friesland, Holland. “Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland" vol. XXIII, vol. XI new Series, 1889, pp. 98–105.
  6. "Aalsum - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  7. "Aalsum". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  8. "Uitgelicht: de terp van Aalsum". Terpen en Wierden Land (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  9. "station Dokkum- Aalsum". Stationsweb (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  10. "Aalsum, 'Droppinghiem'". 4 en 5 mei (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  11. "Velde, Rink van der". Frysk Histoarysk en Letterkundich Sintrum (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 March 2022.

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