- Sexbierum
Infobox Settlement
official_name = Sexbierum
mapsize = 280px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flagicon|NetherlandsNetherlands
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = flagicon|FrieslandFriesland
settlement_type = Village
population_total = c. 1800Sexbierum ( _fr. Seisbierrum) is a village in the municipality of
Franekeradeel (province ofFriesland ), in the north of theNetherlands .The village is famous for its contraction of the words "Sex", "Bier" (the Dutch word for beer) and "Rum". Because of this, the traffic sign of the village is subject to street sign theft.
In history the town is mentioned as "Sixtebeeren" (
1322 ), or "Sixtusbarra". The name "Sixtebeeren" is thought to derive from a combination of the name of thepope Sixtus II and theOld Frisian word for house, "bere".In the Frisian language the village is called "Seisbierrum". The village consists of approximately 600 houses and 1800 habitants, including the twin-village of
Pietersbierum . Both villages grew together in the late sixties of the 20th century.Frisian is the main language in Sexbierum, but the Dutch language has an increasing influence. Circa 1972 the primary schools in Sexbierum switched to Dutch as the main teaching language, instead of Frisian. Before 1972 the only lessons taught in Dutch were the Dutch language lessons.
Sexbierum has three major religious groups: about 1/3 are non-religious, about 1/3 are "Nederlands Hervormd" and about 1/3 are "Gereformeerd". Even though the latter two churches merged in 2004, this still plays some role in day-to-day society. Some of the clubs and foundations stipulate in their statutes that the representative-background must be according to this division (see also
Pillarisation ).Sexbierum is located about 7 kilometres north-east of Harlingen, about 7 kilometres north-west of
Franeker , and about 100 kilometres north-west ofAmsterdam , the capital ofThe Netherlands . There was a station on theNorth Friesland Railway which opened in 1903 and closed to passengers in May 1935. Final closure took place in December 1961.In history,
Tjerk Hiddes de Vries was one of the most famous inhabitants of this city.External links
* [http://www.sexbierum.net Official website of Sexbierum-Pietersbierum]
* [http://local.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=15&ll=53.217983,5.484468&spn=0.017859,0.039911&t=h Sexbierum on Google Maps]
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