FRIES'LAND, or VRIESLAND (ancient Frisia), one of the most northern and weal:11y provinces of the Netherlands, lies between 52' 40' to 53° 30' n. lat. and 5 30' to 20' e. long., and is bounded,.n. by the German ocean•, w. and s.w. by the Zuiderzce. Jan. 1, 1875, pop. 311.240. In 1874, there were 10,658 births, 3,041 deaths, and 2,591 mar riages. A large import and export trade is carried on, especially with England. In 1874, the ships which cleared in numbered 1165, of which 291 were English and 637 Dutch; 1273 cleared out, of which 802 were English and 714 Dutch. The exports to England included 4,915 tons of potatoes, 2,242 tons of oats, 266,041 cwt. of butter, and 40,766 cwt. of cheese.
The land is flat, and in some parts below the level of the sea, and is intersected by canals and streams. Lakes and marshes are numerous. The dikes, sluices, and canals are under the care of a special board, and are kept up at the local expense. The inland waters abound with fish. Rich pastures, well suited for the rearing of horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs, cover a third part of the surface. Large quantities of peat are made. The land products are chiefly wheat, rye, barley, oats, buckwheat, beans, pease, potatoes, colza, flax, etc. F. is well supplied with schools and .charitable institutions. A sixth
part of the population is at school. The capital is Leeuwarden (q.v.). Schiermonnikoog and Ameland carry on extensive fishing for cod, haddock, sole, turbot, etc.
• East F., in to 53' n. lat., and 6° 50' to 8° e. long., has an area of 1144 sq.m., and a pop. amounting in 1871, to 195,394. It now forms the Hanoverian district of Aurich; chief towns, Emden and Aurich. It is bounded n. by the German ocean, w. by the Netherlands, s. by Arenberg, and e. by Oldenburg. Like Netherlands Fries land, it is low and flat, requiring the protection of dikes and sluices. Fishing and agri culture constitute the chief employment of the inhabitants, who are the descendants of the ancient Frisians. This province has frequently changed owners since 1744, when the family of Zirksena, in whose possession it had been for 300 years, became extinct. It was first ceded to Prussia, next incorporated by Napoleon with Holland and France; in 1814 it was restored to Prussia; in 1815 it was ceded to Hanover, along with which it again forms part of Prussia.