| Achtkarspelen | |
|---|---|
|  Road into Surhuizum | |
|  Flag  Coat of arms | |
|  Location in Friesland | |
| Coordinates: 53°15′N 6°9′E / 53.250°N 6.150°E | |
| Country | Netherlands | 
| Province | Friesland | 
| Government | |
| • Body | Municipal council | 
| • Mayor | Oebele Brouwer | 
| Area | |
| • Total | 103.98 km2 (40.15 sq mi) | 
| • Land | 102.23 km2 (39.47 sq mi) | 
| • Water | 1.75 km2 (0.68 sq mi) | 
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) | 
| Population  (January 2021)[3] | |
| • Total | 27,900 | 
| • Density | 273/km2 (710/sq mi) | 
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | 
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | 
| Postcode | Parts of 9000 range | 
| Area code | 0511, 0512 | 
| Website | www | 
Achtkarspelen (Dutch pronunciation: [ɑxtˈkɑrspələ(n)] ⓘ) is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Northern Netherlands. In 2021, it had a population of 27,900.
History
The name Achtkarspelen, literally meaning "eight parishes", is derived from the original eight parishes within the grietenij, namely: Augustinusga, Buitenpost (the capital), Drogeham, De Kooten, Kortwoude, Lutkepost, Surhuizum and Twijzel. Achtkarspelen held a separate status within Friesland for many years. In the Middle Ages Achtkarspelen fell under the Bishopric of Münster, meanwhile the rest of Friesland was a part of the Bishopric of Utrecht.
The grietenij Achtkarspelen became a municipality in 1851 as a result of the Municipality Act of Minister of the Interior Johan Rudolph Thorbecke.
Population centres

The administrative centre in the municipality is Buitenpost.
| Dutch name | West Frisian name | Population | 
|---|---|---|
| Augustinusga | Stynsgea | 1332 | 
| Boelenslaan | Boelensloane | 1145 | 
| Buitenpost | Bûtenpost | 5785 | 
| Drogeham | Droegeham | 1751 | 
| Gerkesklooster-Stroobos | Gerkeskleaster-Strobos | 1140 | 
| Harkema | De Harkema | 4235 | 
| Kootstertille | Koatstertille | 2595 | 
| Surhuisterveen | Surhústerfean | 5810 | 
| Surhuizum | Surhuzem | 1371 | 
| Twijzel | Twizel | 1093 | 
| Twijzelerheide | Twizelerheide | 1889 | 
Notable people
- Derk Holman (1916 in Buitenpost – 1982 in Groningen) a Dutch sculptor and ceramist
- Louw de Graaf (born 1930 in Kootstertille) a retired Dutch politician and trade union leader.
- Gerriet Postma (1932 in Twijzelerheide – 2009) a Dutch painter
- Johannes Lützen Bouma (born 1934 in Twijzelerheide) a Dutch economist and academic
- David Porcelijn (born 1947 in Achtkarspelen) a Dutch composer and conductor
- Joop Atsma (born 1956 in Surhuisterveen) a Dutch politician and sport administrator.
- Meindert Talma (born 1968 in Surhuisterveen) a Dutch lo-fi singer and keyboardist
- Oedo Kuipers (born 1989 in Stroobos) a Dutch singer and actor in musical theatre
Gallery
 Augustinusga Dwarsreed Augustinusga Dwarsreed
 Boelenslaan Oranje gekte Boelenslaan Oranje gekte
 Begin van de Kolk, Surhuisterveen Begin van de Kolk, Surhuisterveen
.jpg.webp) The Hoendiep near Stroobos The Hoendiep near Stroobos
References
- ↑ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2020" [Key figures for neighbourhoods 2020]. StatLine (in Dutch). CBS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ↑ "Postcodetool for 9285NH". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- ↑ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
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