FRIESLAND or VRIESLAND, a province of Holland, bounded south-west, west and north by the Zuider Zee and the North sea, east by Groningen and Drente, and south-east by Overijsel. It also includes the islands of Ameland and Schier monnikoog (see FRISIAN ISLANDS). Area, 1,248 sq.m.; pop. The soil of Friesland falls naturally into three divisions consisting of sandy clay in the north and north-west, of a median belt of low-fen between the south-west and north-east, and of a comparatively small area of high-fen in the south-east. The clay and low-fen furnish good meadow-land for the world famed breed of Frisian cattle, noted especially for butter produc tion. Horse-breeding is also practised. In the high-fen district peat-digging is still important but cultivation remains difficult. Droughts are specially serious in the absence of flowing rivers, and this difficulty interferes seriously with milk production at times. The water system is entirely canalized, and there is a vast network of canals, waterways and lakes in the whole north and west. The principal lakes are Tjeuke Meer, Sloter Meer, De Fluessen and Sneeker Meer. The tidal range being small on the north coast, the Waterstaat (see NETHERLANDS) provides for the largest removal of superfluous surface water into the Lauwers zee. The drainage problem has always been a peculiarly difficult one.
The population of the province is evenly distributed in small villages. The principal centres are Leeuwarden, Sneek, Bolsward, Franeker, Dokkum, and Heerenveen. With the exception of Franeker and Heerenveen all these towns originally arose on the inlet which has become the Zuider Zee. The seaport towns are more or less decayed; they include Stavoren, Hindeloopen, Workum, Harlingen and Makkum ; the increased draught of modern vessels is largely responsible for this.
For history see FRISIANS.