Aldtsjerk

Aldtsjerk
—  Village  —
Flag
Country	Netherlands
Province	Friesland
Population
– Total	c. 700

Aldtsjerk (Dutch: Oudkerk) is a small village on the highway from Leeuwarden to Dokkum. It is part of Tytsjerksteradiel, Friesland, Netherlands, Europe and has around the 693 citizens (2008).^[1]

Its annual festivities include the Doarpsfeest, including a parade, held in the summer. Local landmarks include the Heemstra State, former residence of the aristocratic Sminia family. The village's main road, the van Sminiaweg is about a mile long and named after the Sminia family. The village also houses a former baker who was quite famous for his Oranjekoek and Suikerbrood, but he retired in 2000 at the introduction of the euro. Local shopping facilities are scarce: the nearest grocery market is located in Oentsjerk, about two miles outside town limits. The most notable shop of the town is a bike dealership and a store called Bram en Jannie's, and stands not actually in the town itself, but halfway between Aldtjserk en Oentsjerk. In the center of the village, the Aldtsjerk church is located, which was built in 12th century.

Near the village, the Aldtjserkster mar, a small lake, is located, which is an important point on the Elfstedentocht. In Dutch the village is called Oudkerk ("Old Church"); Aldtsjerk is its West Frisian name. It was one of the first Frisian towns to be generally listed under its West Frisian, rather than its Dutch name. The Ouderkerkermolen is a preserved windmill in Aldtsjerk.

Notable buildings

• The Protestant church of Aldtsjerk
• The Ouderkerkermolen

References

1. ^ Municipality of Tytsjerksteradiel - population per village

External links

• Site about Aldtsjerk

Coordinates: 53°15′49″N 5°53′18″E / 53.26361°N 5.88833°E / 53.26361; 5.88833