Grou
| Grou | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Village | |||
| |||
 | |||
| Country |
 Netherlands | ||
| Province |
 Friesland | ||
| Population | |||
| • Total | c. 5,700 | ||
Grou (Dutch: Grouw) is a town in the province Fryslân of the Netherlands and has around 5737 citizens (2007).
The town is located on the Pikmeer lake and the Prinses Margrietkanaal. Heineken operated a distribution centre for Fryslân in Grou for 25 years until 2004.[1]
It used to be the capital of municipality of Idaarderadeel before the reorganization of municipalities in 1984. Grou celebrates Sint Piter as a holiday on February 21, which differs from most of the Netherlands.
A nickname for the town is Tsiisferdûnsers, meaning cheese dancers, from a story where a fiddler was paid with cheese at a village dance.
Transport
The town is located at an exit on the A32. There is a ferry across the canal called Veerpont de Burd that connects the de Burd island. The Grou-Jirnsum railway station is on the Staatslijn A (Arnhem - Leeuwarden) line.
Population
| 1954 | 1959 | 1964 | 1969 | 1973 | 1990 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3453 | 3522 | 3880 | 4129 | 4600 | 5316 | 5472 |
| 2002 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| 5731 | 5916 | 5875 | 5769 | 5737 | 5673 | 5634 |
| 2011 | ||||||
| 5623 |
Notable births
- Eeltsje Halbertsma (1797-1858), doctor and writer
- Joast Halbertsma, poet
- Atje Keulen-Deelstra (1938-2013), speed skater
- Pibo Ovittius van Abbema (ca. 1542-1618), clergyman
- Haitske Pijlman (born 1954), speed skater
- Catherinus Smeding, painter
Sport
An artificial ice rink (Glice) invented by Eric Sinnema was opened for public use in 2007.[2]
Notable buildings
- The Protestant church of Grou
- Three restored windmills survive in Grou, De Bird, De Borgmolen and De Haensmolen.
References
External links
Coordinates: 53°06′N 5°50′E / 53.10°N 5.83°E
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grouw. |