# Bolsward

> town in Súdwest-Fryslân, Netherlands

**Wikidata**: [Q3291153](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3291153)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolsward)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bolsward

## Summary  
Bolsward is a town in the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân, Netherlands, historically recognized as a Hanseatic city. It is officially known as *Boalsert* in the West Frisian language and retains medieval architectural landmarks such as its town hall and churches.  

## Key Facts  
- **Area**: 9.42 square kilometres.  
- **Coordinates**: 53.061797° N, 5.521403° E.  
- **Country**: Netherlands.  
- **Municipality**: Súdwest-Fryslân (as of 2022).  
- **Postal Codes**: 8700–8702.  
- **Aliases**: Boalsert (Frisian).  
- **Instance Of**: Hanseatic city, place with town rights, cadastral populated place.  
- **Geonames ID**: 2758682.  
- **MusicBrainz Area ID**: a40bf10d-d3b8-4274-a96e-46e7efae1968.  
- **OpenStreetMap Relation ID**: 444446.  
- **List of Monuments**: Rijksmonumenten in Bolsward, Gemeentelijke monumenten in Bolsward.  
- **Wikipedia Languages**: 33 languages, including Dutch, English, German, and French.  

## FAQs  
**Q: Where is Bolsward located?**  
A: Bolsward is situated in the province of Friesland, Netherlands, within the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân.  

**Q: What historical significance does Bolsward hold?**  
A: It was a member of the Hanseatic League, a medieval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns.  

**Q: How is Bolsward represented in cultural and academic contexts?**  
A: The town is documented in historical encyclopedias such as *Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary* and the 11th edition of the *Encyclopædia Britannica*.  

**Q: What identifiers does Bolsward have in databases?**  
A: Key identifiers include GeoNames ID 2758682, WOEID 727842, and OpenStreetMap Relation ID 444446.  

## Why It Matters  
Bolsward’s significance lies in its preserved medieval heritage and historical role as a Hanseatic trade hub. Its well-maintained architecture, including the 15th-century town hall and Gothic churches, reflects its past prosperity. As a Frisian town, it contributes to the cultural identity of the region, supporting tourism and historical research.  

## Notable For  
- **Hanseatic Heritage**: One of the few Dutch towns with historical Hanseatic League membership.  
- **Architectural Preservation**: Features intact medieval structures like the *Stadhuis* (town hall) and *Sint-Martinuskerk*.  
- **Frisian Name**: Officially recognized as *Boalsert* in the West Frisian language.  
- **Rijksmonumenten**: Hosts nationally protected monuments.  

## Body  

### Geography & Location  
Bolsward covers 9.42 km² in the Dutch province of Friesland, at coordinates 53.061797° N, 5.521403° E. It is part of the Súdwest-Fryslân municipality (established 2011) and uses postal codes 8700–8702. A locator map is available at [Map - NL - Municipality code 0064 (2009).svg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Map_-_NL_-_Municipality_code_0064_(2009).svg).  

### History  
Founded as a medieval settlement, Bolsward gained town rights in the 13th century and joined the Hanseatic League, bolstering its trade influence. It is referenced in historical texts such as *Topographia Circuli Burgundici* (1650) and the 11th edition of the *Encyclopædia Britannica*.  

### Governance & Status  
Bolsward is classified as a "place with town rights and privileges" and a "cadastral populated place in the Netherlands." It has a *bag_residence_id* of 2079 and is governed under the *nl_cr_aut_id* ge759784.  

### Culture & Landmarks  
The town’s cultural significance is highlighted by:  
- **Monuments**: 55 Rijksmonumenten (national monuments) and municipal monuments.  
- **Museums**: Associated with *museum_digital_place_id* 57831.  
- **Artistic References**: Featured in the *RKD Thesaurus* (ID 3469) and *DBNL Place ID* bolsw001.  

### Infrastructure & Identifiers  
Key identifiers include:  
- **GeoNames ID**: 2758682.  
- **MusicBrainz Area ID**: a40bf10d-d3b8-4274-a96e-46e7efae1968.  
- **OpenStreetMap Relation ID**: 444446.  
- **Wikipedia Title**: Bolsward (translated into 33 languages).  

### Symbolism & Media  
Bolsward’s symbols are represented by:  
- **Flag**: [Bolsward_flag.svg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Bolsward_flag.svg).  
- **Coat of Arms**: [Bolsward_wapen.svg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Bolsward_wapen.svg).  
- **Banner**: [Appelmarkt_in_Bolsward_Netherlands_2005-07-19_banner.jpg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Appelmarkt_in_Bolsward_Netherlands_2005-07-19_banner.jpg).  

### Academic & Commercial References  
The town is cataloged in:  
- **Münzkabinett ID**: location/2739.  
- **Numista Ruling Authority ID**: 9187.  
- **Early Modern Letters Online Location ID**: 1cadd896-1798-4acc-a0ce-086fa2d00625.  

### Disambiguation  
Bolsward is distinct from other entities with similar names, as noted in its *different_from* property.

## References

1. [Woonplaatsen in Nederland 2021](https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/cijfers/detail/84992NED)
2. Czech National Authority Database
3. MusicBrainz
4. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
5. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/nl.htm)
6. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File