West Friesland (region)

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For the history of West Friesland, see West Friesland (historical region)

The contemporary region of West Friesland highlighted on a map of North Holland

West Friesland (also West Frisia; Dutch: West-Friesland; West Frisian: West-Fryslân) is a contemporary region in the northwestern Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.

The region covers an area of about 800 km², delineated by the Westfriese Omringdijk. It consists of the municipalities of:

Dutch name	West Frisian Name
Alkmaar	Alkmare
Andijk	Andìk
Drechterland	Drechterland
Enkhuizen	Inghúze
Harenkarspel	Harenkarspel
Heerhugowaard	Heerhugoweard or Heregeweard
Hoorn	Hoorn
Koggenland	Koggeland
Langedijk	Lengedìk
Medemblik	Memelik
Niedorp	Nierup
Opmeer	Obmar or Opmar
Schagen	Skagen
Stede Broec	Stee Broek
Wervershoof	Werfershouf

Major cities include Hoorn and Alkmaar.

[edit] Dialect

The traditional dialect of the region is the West Frisian dialect of Hollandic Dutch. The contemporary region is similar in size and location to the historical district (gouw) of Westflinge which itself was a part of a much larger historical region of West Friesland.