Around the year 440 (Shippey 2022), a betrayal unfolded on the southern shores of the North Sea — a tragedy not forgotten in north-western Europe, echoing even in distant Bavaria. And it never will be. We are talking about the bloody battle at the citadel of King Finn — or Fin Folcwalding Fresna cynne, asContinue reading “Tolkien Pleaded in Favour of King Finn. An Immortalized Royal Tragedy”
Category Archives: history
How a Town Drowned Overnight. The Case of Rungholt
Rungholt. A thriving and wealthy town of the archipelago of the Wadden Sea that disappeared in the waves overnight in the year 1362. For six centuries, only legends have told us about what happened to Rungholt. A town submerged in the sea as the wrath of God. According to these medieval legends, you could stillContinue reading “How a Town Drowned Overnight. The Case of Rungholt”
Bill Clinton: “I Did Not Have Financial Relations With That Village”
On May 28, 2011 Bill Clinton held a speech in Achlum, province Friesland. The village has some 600 inhabitants. Looks like a small audience to me. What was he up to? We searched online for the keywords “Clinton” and “Achlum” and found many articles mentioning large sums of money… Indeed Achlum should be famous forContinue reading “Bill Clinton: “I Did Not Have Financial Relations With That Village””
There Is No Dealing With the Wheels of Fortune — a Celtic-Frisian Heritage
In August 2016, on the Dutch late-night talk show Pauw, former game show host Hans van der Togt — best known for presenting Rad van Fortuin (Wheel of Fortune) — spoke candidly about his harsh and miserable life in the province of Friesland. In this blog post, we will explain, in plain and simple terms,Continue reading “There Is No Dealing With the Wheels of Fortune — a Celtic-Frisian Heritage”
Boots Made for Walkin’
Besides Nancy Sinatra’s 1966 recommendation in her song; what kind of boots would we recommend to hike the Frisia Coast Trail? The combination of a flat and often hard surface will take its toll when walking the trail. In this blog post, we discuss what kind of footwear is (not) suitable. It is important toContinue reading “Boots Made for Walkin’”
A Terp for Choquequirao, Peru
Why in heaven’s name should a terp be constructed in the Andes? To be more precise, the location for this terp is at the remote, archaeological Inca site Choquequirao in Peru. The answer to the question is not too difficult. The idea was inspired by the monument at the Tsjitsma terp near the village ofContinue reading “A Terp for Choquequirao, Peru”
Terrorist Fighters from the Wadden Sea. The Era of the Crusades
When it comes to the deradicalization of foreign terrorist fighters in modern Western societies, the Frisians — meaning here the present-day regions of Ostfriesland and Land Wursten in Germany, and the provinces of Friesland and Groningen in the Netherlands — have neither a strong track record nor notable expertise to offer. Their only meaningful contributionContinue reading “Terrorist Fighters from the Wadden Sea. The Era of the Crusades”
Lodging Etiquette in Ostfriesland. Land of the First Legally Blondes
Imagine you are hiking the Frisia Coast Trail in northwest Germany. After a long day of walking and searching for shelter, you try your luck at a private home. Before the owner agrees to let you stay the night, you may first be asked to show your silver. And, as if pressing an early versionContinue reading “Lodging Etiquette in Ostfriesland. Land of the First Legally Blondes”
The Boarn Supremacy
In the 8th century the Battle of the Boarn was fought. It was a huge battle between the Frisians and the Franks. The stakes were very high: the supremacy over the north of the Netherlands. According to the sources it took place at the borders of the Boarn (Boorne) or the Bordine or both. TheContinue reading “The Boarn Supremacy”
The Mother of All Dykes
Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to get down and dirty. Nope, this article is not about lesbians. This dyke is not made of flesh and bones, but it is made of dirt, dung and, ok probably ‘bones’. This dyke is actually an old Route 66. A dyke is an artificial slope to regulate waterContinue reading “The Mother of All Dykes”
Frisia Coast Trail 