Leeuwarderadeel

Leeuwarderadeel is a former municipality in the province of Friesland, in the northern Netherlands. It was located in the northwest of the province and had a coastline along the Wadden Sea. The municipality covered an area of approximately 92 square kilometers and had around 24,300 inhabitants. It was a relatively large municipality in Friesland, both in terms of population and size.

Leeuwarderadeel was a unique municipality, as it consisted of 44 separate villages, as well as a number of smaller hamlets and single dwellings. The administrative center was the village of Westergeest, which is situated near the provincial capital of Leeuwarden. However, the village of Winsum was the largest village in the municipality in terms of population.

In 2018, Leeuwarderadeel was merged with the municipality of Ferwerderadeel to form the new municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân. This decision was made as part of a nationwide process to reduce the number of municipalities in the Netherlands. The merger aimed to create more efficient and effective local governments, while also reducing administrative costs.

The landscape of Leeuwarderadeel was characterized by shallow dunes and mud pans, which were typical features of the Wadden Sea coast. The area was also known for its rich cultural heritage, with many historical buildings and monuments still visible today. In everyday life, the local people lived off the land, with many involved in fishing, agriculture, or working in related industries.