West Friesland

West Friesland (West Frisian: Westfriesland, Frisian: West-Fryslân) has multiple meanings, the name is generally used for the region of West Friesland within the West Frisian Circular Dike and the collaborative region also named West Friesland. It also refers to the Kop of North Holland.

In the Middle Ages, the area between the Zwin and the Vlie was often referred to as Frisia west of the Vlie. The first mention of West Friesland under this name, occidentalis Fresia, dates back to 1101. However, this refers to a geographically smaller area to distinguish it from Holland, which is also mentioned for the first time that year. In later centuries, the name West Friesland was used for the bailiwick within the West Frisian Circular Dike.

In West Friesland, the West Frisian dialect is spoken. Besides the dialects of actual West Friesland within the circular dike, Tessel and Wieringen are also considered West Frisian, albeit as conservative forms of the dialect.

The dialect has variations from village to village but has notable general characteristics, such as the use of sk- instead of sch- and other grammatical and lexical peculiarities.

From the 11th century, West Friesland was an autonomous lordship for 300 years, as the West Frisians did not want to submit to the counts of Holland. After Count Floris V conquered West Friesland, uprisings followed that were suppressed under Count Jan I by Jan III of Renesse in 1297 at the Battle of Vronen. Since that time, West Friesland has been part of the County of Holland and from 1840 of the Province of North Holland.

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