Friesland
A trip for slow travelers who want lake water, Frisian villages and tidal mudflats in the Netherlands' north.
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Friesland (Fryslân) is a province in the north of the Netherlands, with Leeuwarden as its capital. Much of it is flat grassland with many lakes. The southwest lake district is famous for water tourism, and the province has more than 200 marinas. Frisian is official alongside Dutch, and the Frisian people have their own language and identity, so place names can differ from one town to the next.
The province also has a tidal coast. The Wadden Islands Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog belong to Friesland, and ferries from Harlingen reach Vlieland and Terschelling. The Wadden Sea is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Summer brings the most visitors to the lakes and islands, and July averages around 20°C. Allow three or four days to cover one lake area and a day trip to an island.
Friesland in five
- Pick water or cities as your frameFriesland's tourism site pitches eleven historic cities and lakes, canals and coast for sailing, paddling and cruising. Decide between a boat holiday and a city base with day trips.
- Walk the mudflats with an organized tourThe tourism site lists walking across the mudflats of the UNESCO Wadden Sea. Book an organized walk instead of going alone, and ask the organizer about tide times.
- Use Harlingen for the islandsHarlingen is the gateway for the Terschelling and Vlieland ferries. The Frisian Islands guide compares the islands and the other harbors.Frisian Islands
- Pair Friesland with GroningenGroningen lies east of Friesland and shares the Wadden coast and a slow pace. A two-region trip needs a car or a good train plan; check 9292 before you commit.Groningen
- Detour for farm shopsThe tourism site promotes farm shops and regional products. Check opening days before you plan a detour around one.
Things to do in Friesland
See all attractions in Friesland
Need to know
- Airport
- Schiphol (AMS) or Groningen Eelde (GRQ), then train or bus
- Getting there
- NS trains to Leeuwarden and other towns; check 9292.nl
- Getting around
- Bike, boat and regional bus; a car helps between small villages
- Best base
- Leeuwarden for museums; Sneek or Harlingen for water
- Time needed
- 3 to 5 days; a week with the islands
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh6°Low3°Cold, greyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- FebruaryRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low3°ColdFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh9°Low3°CoolMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Spring, mildAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, mild
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Mild, long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, long days
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Long days, boatsJuneRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days, boats
- JulyRain15 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Warm, boatsJulyRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, boats
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Warm, boatsAugustRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, boats
- SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low13°Mild, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Wet, windyOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh10°Low6°Wet, windyNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh7°Low4°Dark, short daysDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, short days
Average daily high and low in Leeuwarden, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Friesland
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 90%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Friesland
09:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°10°100%Monday: Rain. High 13°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue11°5°10%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Wed10°2°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°4°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri7°2°0%Friday: Clear. High 7°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat6°0°9%Saturday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Sun8°4°9%Sunday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 9%.
Updated 06:03 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Frisian Islandsby ferry from HarlingenTerschelling and Vlieland sail from Harlingen; the guide has all five.Read the guide
- Groningena train or drive eastA university city with a tall church tower and a museum quarter.Read the guide
- Leeuwardenthe province capitalThe main city for museums and a base for boat and bike trips.
Before you go to Friesland
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Rules for Friesland, checked
- The Netherlands is in the Schengen area, and many nationalities enter visa-free for short stays. Check the entry rules on government.nl before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in the Netherlands.
- In Dantumadiel and Tytsjerksteradiel, place names on signs are in Frisian, so search for the Frisian name on a map if the Dutch one fails.
- Wade only on the marked sections of the Wadden Sea at low tide, and check tide times before you go.
- Service is usually included in Dutch bills. Rounding up the total is the usual custom, and no further tip is expected.
Plan around Friesland
Terschelling, Vlieland and the other Wadden islands
Read the guideGroningenThe big city next door and the Wadden coast
Read the guideUtrechtThe rail hub on the way north
Read the guideAmsterdamThe usual arrival point
Read the guideTransport in EuropeRail tickets and when a pass pays off
Read the guideAll of the NetherlandsLakes and islands next to the cities and trains
Read the guideFriesland FAQ
Is Friesland worth visiting?
Yes, if you like water, quiet villages and slow travel. It is not a checklist region, so it suits a second Dutch trip better than a first.
How many days do you need in Friesland?
Three to five days cover Leeuwarden, a boat day and a village loop. Add the islands and a week passes easily.
What are the eleven cities?
The tourism site describes eleven historic cities, each with its own story and landmarks. The set is tied to the old Elfstedentocht skating route; check the tourism site for the list.
Do you need a car in Friesland?
No for the main towns, since trains and buses serve them. A car or bike is useful for villages, lakes and farm shops between them.
Can you visit Friesland and the islands in one trip?
Yes. Harlingen has the ferries to Terschelling and Vlieland, so mainland and islands link easily. The Frisian Islands guide covers the harbors for the other three islands.