Ameland

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Ameland

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image_

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seal_size = 70px


mapsize = 280px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Netherlands
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Friesland
area_footnotes = (2006)
area_total_km2 = 268.50
area_land_km2 = 60.02
area_water_km2 = 208.48
population_as_of = 1 January, 2007
population_note = Source: CBS, [http://statline.cbs.nl/ Statline] .
settlement_type = Municipality
population_total = 3452
population_density_km2 = 58
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2

Ameland (Pronunciation|441 Ameland.ogg, West Frisian: It Amelân) is a municipality and one of the West Frisian Islands off the north coast of the Netherlands. It consists mostly of sand dunes.

Population centres

* Ballum
* Buren (also called Bueren)
* Hollum (the most populated village)
* Nes (the main village)(West Frisian names)

(Ameland is not itself the name of a village).

History

First mentioned as Ambla in the 8th century, it paid tribute to the county of Holland until in 1424 its lord Ritske Jelmera declared it a 'free lordship' ("vrijheerschap").

Although Holland, Friesland and the Holy Roman Emperor contested this quasi-independent status, it remained a free lordship until the ruling family, Cammingha, died out in 1708. After that, the Frisian stadtholder Johan Willem Friso of Orange-Nassau became lord of Ameland and after him, his son the stadtholder of all the Netherlands William IV of Orange and his grandson William V of Orange.

Only in the constitution of 1813 was the island finally integrated into the Netherlands (into the province of Friesland). The kings and queens of the Netherlands still maintain the title "Vrijheer van Ameland" today.

In 1940 the German troops were ferried to the island and within hours Ameland was under the control of the German Army. Because of its limited military value the Allies never invaded Ameland. The German forces on the island did not surrender until June 2, 1945, almost a full month after the defeat of Nazi Germany.

Nature

Like all West and East Frisian Islands, Ameland is a unique piece of nature. The profusion of different plants on the island is caused by the immense variety of landscapes. One of the scenic areas is the Oerd, a large complex of dunes which is still expanding by the year. Because of the differing landscapes and types of flora, over 60 different species of birds are sitting there every year. At the eastern part of the Oerd lays a beach plain called the Hon.Besides dunes and beaches, Ameland has some woods, like the 'Nesser bos' (Wood of Nes). This wood belongs to Nes, but a local legend tells a different story about the owner of this property. Every now and then, the owner according to the legend is pointed out in mysterious ways.

Transport

The most of the travellers reach the island by ferry from Holwerd, but there is also an airfield near Ballum. A bus service connect the ferries from Hollum/Ballum (route 130) and Buren/Nes (route 132).

External links

* [http://www.ameland.org/ Website of the island]