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The Fryske Rie fan Heraldyk is publishing a special anniversary edition entitled ‘Village Coats of Arms in Friesland’

The Fryske Rie fan Heraldyk is publishing a special anniversary edition entitled ‘Village Coats of Arms in Friesland’

Over 400 Frisian village coats of arms compiled in an anniversary publication by the Fryske Rie foar Heraldyk

Event

History and heritage

Publication

The Fryske Rie foar Heraldyk and the Dutch Society for Heraldry are organising the annual Heraldic Day in Fryslân on Saturday 3 October. With talks by experts, a heraldic market and the launch of a new publication, the day will be entirely devoted to coats of arms, identity and history.

 

It is no coincidence that this year’s Heraldic Day is being held in Friesland. The Fryske Rie foar Heraldyk will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2026. To mark this anniversary, the national gathering has been brought to Leeuwarden. The King’s Commissioner, Drs Arno Brok, will open the day.

 

New publication: Village Coats of Arms in Fryslân

To mark the 70th anniversary of De Fryske Rie voor Heraldyk, the Fryske Akademy is publishing a new book on village coats of arms in Fryslân. The publication, written and compiled by the heralds Jan T. Anema and Jelle C. Terluin of the Ried, features 408 village coats of arms. For villages that did not yet have a coat of arms, the Council has created a design. This makes the book a unique collection of village coats of arms from Fryslân.


A herald for over 60 years

Heraldry is the study of the use of coats of arms and heraldic symbols. Coats of arms are emblems used to identify individuals, families or organisations. The symbols on a coat of arms convey information about the bearer. In the case of villages, these are often symbols relating to the landscape, such as pastures, arable land or, for example, a stin.

Coats of arms originated in the Middle Ages, when knights, clad in their heavy armour, were almost unrecognisable in battle or at a tournament. They therefore had designs on their shields intended to clearly show who they were. The heralds, who organised the tournaments amongst other things, could then announce the knights on the basis of their coats of arms. Nowadays, heralds are mainly concerned with designing and granting new coats of arms. This is certainly true of Jan T. Anema and Jelle C. Terluin, two driving forces behind the Fryske Rie voor Heraldyk, both of whom have been experts in the field of coats of arms for over 60 years.

Heraldic Day 2026

Heraldic Day 2026 will take place at Tresoar (Boterhoek 1, Leeuwarden). Doors open at 11.00 and the programme begins at 11.30. The day ends at 16.30. Admission to Heraldic Day is €25 per person, including coffee/tea, pastries, lunch and a copy of *Dorpswapens in Fryslân* published by the Fryske Rie foar Heraldyk. 

About the Fryske Rie foar Heraldyk

The Fryske Rie foar Heraldyk was founded in 1956 by the Fryske Akademy and is the oldest provincial heraldic college in the Netherlands. The committee provides advice on the coats of arms of the province, the municipalities, the water boards, the coats of arms of towns, hamlets and villages, and existing family coats of arms. In addition, the Council designs coats of arms, flags and pennants for, amongst others, villages, families and corporations.

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