Frisians were also known for their independence. They chose their own path, obeying only their own laws and government and speaking their own language. Under Charlemagne's regime, Magna Frisia became part of the Frankish Empire. Even then, the Frisians retained a large part of their autonomy.

That urge for autonomy, for freedom and to stand up for what is important is still deeply rooted in the modern Frisian. And happiness is the greatest driving force. We take good care of environment, maintain social facilities in the villages and stay connected with each other.

We don't wait for someone else to do something, because if we find something useful, we work together to achieve it. We all take action to create something great. And that is reflected in the decisiveness and organisational skills that prevail here. You can read all about it in our magazine. We’ll start with a fine example of the organisational strength of the network we call mienskip: the Eleven Cities Tour.

Long ago, in the early Middle Ages, the Frisian empire stretched from present-day Zeeland to Germany. The Frisians were known as the best skippers and merchants. With their strong trading network, they dominated trade in northwestern Europe.