Grou

Grou (Dutch: Grouw[1]) is a town in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and had around 5655 citizens in January 2017.[2] Since 2014 Grou is part of the municipality of Leeuwarden.

Grou
Grouw
Village
St Peter's Church
St Peter's Church
Flag of Grou
Flag
Coat of arms of Grou
Coat of arms
Location in the former Boarnsterhim municipality
Location in the former Boarnsterhim municipality
Grou is located in Friesland
Grou
Grou
Location in the Netherlands
Grou is located in Netherlands
Grou
Grou
Grou (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 53.10°N 5.83°E / 53.10; 5.83
CountryNetherlands Netherlands
ProvinceFriesland Friesland
MunicipalityLeeuwarden Leeuwarden
Population
 (2017)
 • Total5,655
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
9000-01
Telephone area0566

The town is located on the Pikmeer lake and the Prinses Margrietkanaal. Heineken operated a distribution centre for Friesland in Grou for 25 years until 2004.[3]

It used to be the capital of the municipality of Idaarderadeel before the reorganization of municipalities in 1984, and capital of the municipality of Boarnsterhim until 2014.

While the rest of the Netherlands celebrates Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) on December 5, Grou instead celebrates a unique local variation of this children's holiday known as Sint-Piter on February 21. In local lore Sint Piter is a distinct character separate from Saint Nicholas, and was historically known as the patron saint for local fishermen.[4]

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
A32 underpass of the Prinses Margriet Kanaal

The town is located at an exit on the A32 motorway. 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
map of Grou
1954195919641969197319901999
3453352238804129460053165472
2002200420052006200720082009
5731591658755769573756735634
2011
5623

Notable births

Sport

An artificial ice rink (Glice) invented by Eric Sinnema was opened for public use in 2007.[5]

  • Houses near the harbour with St. Peter's church in the background
    Houses near the harbour with St. Peter's church in the background
  • Grou harbour
    Grou harbour
  • New quai 1850
    New quai 1850

Notable buildings

References
  1. Taalunie (2020). "Friese namen" (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  2. Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2017 - CBS Statline
  3. "De Grouster - Nieuws". De Grouster.
  4. "Geschiedenis – Sint Piter". Sint Piter.
  5. "Wereldprimeur in Grou met kunststof ijsbaan - NU - Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl". www.nu.nl.
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