Grou — Mediated Wiki

{{other uses}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Grou | native_name = Grouw | native_name_lang =  | settlement_type = Village | image_skyline = Sint Pieterkerk2 Grou.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = St Peter's Church | image_flag = Grou vlag.svg | flag_alt = | image_seal = | seal_alt = | image_shield = Grou wapen.svg | shield_alt = | etymology = | nickname = | motto = | image_map = Map NL Boarnsterhim Grou.png | map_alt = | map_caption = Location in the former Boarnsterhim municipality | pushpin_map = Netherlands Friesland#Netherlands | pushpin_label_position = right | pushpin_mapsize = 250 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Netherlands | coordinates = {{coord|53.10|N|5.83|E|display=title}} | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Netherlands]] | subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]] | subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon|Friesland}} [[Friesland]] | subdivision_type2 = [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]] | subdivision_name2 = {{flagicon|Leeuwarden}} [[Leeuwarden]] | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | seat_type = | seat = | government_footnotes = | leader_party = | leader_title = | leader_name = | unit_pref = Metric   | area_footnotes = | area_urban_footnotes =  | area_rural_footnotes =  | area_metro_footnotes =  | area_magnitude =  | area_note = | area_water_percent = | area_rank = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank2_title =  | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_urban_km2 = | area_rural_km2 = | area_metro_km2 = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank2_km2 =  | area_total_ha = | area_land_ha = | area_water_ha = | area_urban_ha = | area_rural_ha = | area_metro_ha = | area_blank1_ha = | area_blank2_ha = | length_km = | width_km = | dimensions_footnotes = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_as_of = 2017 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 5655 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_note = | population_demonym = | timezone1 = [[Central European Time|CET]] | utc_offset1 = +1 | timezone1_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] | utc_offset1_DST = +2 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 9000-01 | area_code_type = Telephone area | area_code = 0566 | iso_code = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Grou''' ({{langx|nl|Grouw}}<ref name=Taalunie>{{cite web |url=https://namen.taalunie.org/friese-namen |title=Friese namen |last=Taalunie |year=2020 |language=nl |access-date= 31 January 2020}}</ref>) is a town in the province [[Friesland]] of the [[Netherlands]] and had around 5655 citizens in January 2017.<ref>[http://statline.cbs.nl/Statweb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=83765NED&D1=0-1,3-4,8,11,14,28,31-32,99-104&D2=8740-8880&HDR=T&STB=G1&VW=T Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2017] - CBS Statline</ref> Since 2014 Grou is part of the municipality of [[Leeuwarden]].

The town is located on the {{ill|Pikmeer|fy|Pikmar}} lake and the [[Prinses Margriet Canal]]. [[Heineken]] operated a distribution centre for Friesland in Grou for 25 years until 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.degrouster.nl/?show=article&article_id=886|title=De Grouster - Nieuws|website=De Grouster}}</ref>

It used to be the capital of the municipality of {{ill|Idaarderadeel|fy|Idaarderadiel}} before the reorganization of municipalities in 1984, and capital of the municipality of [[Boarnsterhim]] until 2014.

While the rest of the Netherlands celebrates [[Sinterklaas]] (Saint Nicholas) on December 5, Grou instead celebrates a unique local variation of this children's holiday known as {{ill|Sint-Piter|fy}} on February 21. In local lore Sint Piter is a distinct character separate from Saint Nicholas, and was historically known as the patron saint for local fishermen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sintpiter.nl/geschiedenis/|title=Geschiedenis – Sint Piter|website=Sint Piter}}</ref>

A nickname for the town is '''Tsiisferdûnsers''', meaning cheese dancers, from a story where a fiddler was paid with cheese at a village dance.{{Citation needed|date=August 2017}}

==Transport== [[File:Akwadukt Mid-Fryslan 02.JPG|thumb|left|A32 underpass of the Prinses Margriet Canal]]

The town is located at an exit on the A32 motorway. 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== [[File:Grou Map.png|thumb|250px|map of Grou]] {|class="wikitable" ! 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== * {{ill|Pibo Ovittius fan Abbema|fy}} (ca. 1542-1618), clergyman * [[Brothers Halbertsma]] ** [[Eeltsje Hiddes Halbertsma]] (1797-1858), physician, poet and writer ** [[Joast Hiddes Halbertsma]] (1789-1869), Mennonite minister, writer and poet ** [[Tsjalling Hiddes Halbertsma]] (1792–1852), merchant and poet * [[Atje Keulen-Deelstra]] (1938-2013), speed skater * [[Haitske Pijlman]] (born 1954), speed skater

==Sport== An artificial ice rink ([[Glice]]) invented by Eric Sinnema was opened for public use in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nu.nl/wetenschap/1351292/wereldprimeur-in-grou-met-kunststof-ijsbaan.html|title=Wereldprimeur in Grou met kunststof ijsbaan - NU - Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl|website=www.nu.nl}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Grou1.jpg|Houses near the harbour with St. Peter's church in the background File:Grouw - Haven.jpg|Grou harbour File:Oud schilderij Grou.jpg|New quai 1850 </gallery>

==Notable buildings== * [[Protestant church of Grou|St. Peter's church]] * Three restored windmills survive in Grou, [[De Bird, Grou|''De Bird'']], [[De Borgmolen, Grou|''De Borgmolen'']] and [[De Haensmolen, Grou|''De Haensmolen'']].

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{commons category-inline}} *[http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/grouw_friesland_netherlands Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia entry for Grouw] *[https://www.degrouster.nl de Grouster - local news]

[[Category:Leeuwarden]] [[Category:Populated places in Friesland]]