Ameland
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| Ameland | |||
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| Country | Netherlands | ||
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| Province | Friesland | ||
| Area (2006) | |||
| - Total | 268.50 km² (103.7 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 60.02 km² (23.2 sq mi) | ||
| - Water | 208.48 km² (80.5 sq mi) | ||
| Population (1 January 2007) | |||
| - Total | 3,452 | ||
| - Density | 58/km² (150.2/sq mi) | ||
| Source: CBS, Statline. | |||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
.png/290px-Satellite_image_of_Ameland,_Netherlands_(5.78E_53.43N).png)
Ameland (pronunciation , 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. It can be reached by ferry from the Frisian village Holwerd.
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[edit] Population centres
(West Frisian names)
(Ameland is not itself the name of a village).
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] External links
- Ameland is at coordinates Coordinates:
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