famous road
Afsluitdijk
A 32km causeway sealing off the Zuiderzee, this dead-straight engineering marvel is one of Europe's great driving roads.
34 km · about 40 min drive
EuropeNetherlandsFriesland
Leeuwarden
Friesland, Netherlands · Europe
About Leeuwarden
Leeuwarden sits on the route: 34km from Afsluitdijk.
Leeuwarden is in Friesland, Netherlands, with about 120,000 people. You drive on the right here.
Leeuwarden (Dutch: [ˈleːu.ɑrdə(n)] ; West Frisian: Ljouwert [ˈljɔu(ə)t] ; Stadsfries Dutch: Liwwadden; Leeuwarder dialect: Leewarden) is a city and municipality in Friesland, Netherlands, with a population of 127,073 (2023). It is the provincial capital and seat of the Provincial Council of Friesland.
The region hasRead more
been continuously inhabited since the 10th century. It came to be known as Leeuwarden in the early 9th century AD and was granted city privileges in 1435. It is the main economic hub of Friesland, situated in a green and water-rich environment. Leeuwarden is a former royal residence and has a historic city centre, many historically relevant buildings, and a large shopping centre with squares and restaurants. Leeuwarden was awarded the title European Capital of Culture for 2018. Also, Leeuwarden has been a UNESCO City of Literature since 2019.
The Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Tour), an ice skating tour passing the eleven cities of Friesland, starts and finishes in Leeuwarden.
The following towns and villages within the municipality have populations in excess of 1,000 people: Leeuwarden, Stiens, Grou, Goutum, Wergea, Jirnsum, Reduzum, and Wirdum. The municipality is governed by the interim mayor Foort van Oosten and a coalition of the Labour Party, Christian Democratic Appeal, and GreenLeft.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Leeuwarden?
Within an hour or so of Leeuwarden: Afsluitdijk (34 km), Giethoorn (54 km), TT Circuit Assen (55 km).
Are there any good drives near Leeuwarden?
The nearest famous roads are Afsluitdijk and Houtribdijk.
Where is Leeuwarden?
Leeuwarden is in Friesland, Netherlands.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 124,481
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Netherlands
- Region
- Friesland
- Timezone
- Europe/Amsterdam
- Coordinates
- 53.2027, 5.8097
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Netherlands
Watch for cyclists. They generally have priority.
Full driving guide for NetherlandsTags
Worth the detour from Leeuwarden
3 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Giethoorn
Car-free village known as the 'Dutch Venice' where thatched-roof farmhouses are connected by canals and wooden bridges.
54 km · about 65 min drive
racetrack
TT Circuit Assen
The Cathedral of Speed -- the only circuit to have hosted a MotoGP round every year since the championship began in 1949.
55 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Leeuwarden
- 34 kmAfsluitdijkA 32km causeway sealing off the Zuiderzee, this dead-straight engineering marvel is one of Europe's great driving roads.
- 69 kmHoutribdijkA 26 km dike road (N302) running straight across the water between Enkhuizen and Lelystad, splitting the IJsselmeer from the Markermeer with sea views on both sides.
Driving in Netherlands
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€2.04/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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