THE HISTORY OF LEONS;
SISTER VILLAGE OF HÚNS.
TWIN VILLAGE WITH HÚNS
The tiny village of Leons is located between Leeuwarden and Wommels. The official name of the village is Lions, but the Frisians prefer to call it Leons. The village forms a twin village together with Húns. In 2021, 25 people lived in Leons. It is therefore one of the smallest villages in Friesland. Leons is located between the villages of Baard, Jorwert, Hilaard and Húns and has been inhabited for centuries. For example, a Roman statue of the goddess Fortuna was found in the village.
VILLAGE IN THE GREIDHOEKE
De Greidhoeke is an area in Friesland with extensive meadow landscapes and many terp villages, such as Leons. The Greidhoeke is an old salt marsh polder landscape that is located between the large Frisian cities of Leeuwarden, Franeker, Sneek and Bolsward.
The first inhabitants came to Greidhoeke around the 7th century BC. They mainly came from the sandy areas of Drenthe and northwest Germany. The Greidhoeke then consisted mainly of salt marshes.
Because the groundwater began to rise, residents had to raise the salt marshes and the banks of the inlets. This is how the very first house mounds were created. Most of these would grow into village mounds, such as the Leons mound. The village itself is no longer on a mound, because it has largely been excavated.
The first large dykes were constructed around the year 1000. Mainly low ring dykes to protect one or two terp villages from the water. Dikes were built for two centuries, so that around 1200 the entire area was protected by a continuous dyke.
THE TERP OF LEONS
Leons' mound (in Dutch 'terp') must have been quite large and extensive. You can still see this in the houses and farms that are located in a large circle. The original buildings were located in a ring on the edge of the mound. The mound has now largely been excavated. But the Catherine Church still stands at an artificial height in the middle.
BOLSWARDERTREKVAART
The Bolswardertrekvaart is located between the villages of Leons and Húns. The canal was built by order of the city of Bolsward in 1638 to trade and transport goods. The canal was created by connecting many existing waters. The Bolswardertrekvaart is a total of 22 km long. The canal starts at the Stadsgracht in Bolsward and eventually ends at the Van Harinxma Canal near Dronrijp. Both Leons and the twin village of Húns had their own access to the Bolswardertrekvaart. Leons is still connected to the canal canal via the Leonserfeart.
LEONS THROUGH THE CENTURIES
The first mentions of Leons go back to the 13th century. At that time the place was still called Leonghem. In 1438 the village was described as Lyons, in 1440 as Lyowens, in 1482 as Lyoens and in 1505 as Lions. The original name probably refers to Liuwingi. A description of a place of residence where people - such as family - of the person Lieuwe live. A place of residence is also called a 'heem' or 'um'.
THE CATHARINE CHURCH
The church in Leons - a national monument - was built in the 14th century. The church was dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria. There are currently no services being held at the church. The building is mainly used for cultural activities. The tower was rebricked in the 19th century.
The church was saved from destruction in 1961. At that time, the Catharina Church was a ruin and the plan was to demolish the church. The organ – made in 1875 by Willem Hardoff – had even been transferred to the church in Húns in 1961. Fortunately, the church was saved and the building was restored in 1972. After the restoration, the church in Leons received a new organ in 1978.
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WYNHÛNEN
The inhabitants of Leons - or Lions - are called wynhûnen: greyhounds. This is a reference to the village of Baard where the 'cats' live. The nicknames were created by an old rivalry between Baard and Leons.
The Bolwardertrekvaart is a paradise for young people to enjoy in the summer. Jumping from the bridge or from the quay. Swimming in the canal. And sail back and forth in boats to Baard or Oosterlittens. The villagers play kaatsen on the Húns kaats field.
Looking for a holiday home or a recreational apartment in Leons? Then consider our cozy holiday home in Húns, nearby Leons.
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Inclusive:
- 5 bicycles
- Spacious kitchen
- Sunny backyard
- Front garden with a view of the kaats field
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With 6 sleeping places - and if you include the box bed and the sleeping places, even 9 - our summer house is the ideal destination to enjoy a Friesland holiday with your whole family.
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RECREATION IN LEONS
RENT A BOAT IN LEONS
In Leons you can rent various boats to explore the area from the water. From the village there are sailing options to places such as Leeuwarden, Franeker and Easterlittens. These trips offer a unique way to discover Friesland, sailing past picturesque villages and through the vast Frisian landscape.
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