By the middle of the ninth century, the Vikings had carved out a more or less permanent foothold in Frisia, in the pagus ‘territory’ of Nordendi, also known as Norditi. But by the year 884, the Frisians had had enough. They forged swords and axes, raised an army, and drove the Norsemen out once andContinue reading “A Theel-Acht. What a Great Idea!”
Tag Archives: Wadden Sea
Atlantis Found! Wait, There Is Another One, or 7, Wait 12 in Total… No, 19!
Frisia could easily claim the title: Land of Atlantis. 19 inhabited islands and 244 villages drowned along the old Frisian coast trail in the past 1,500 years. We bet there are more out there… Atlantis emerged in the writings of Greek philosopher Plato. That was around 350 BC. In two of his dialogues, the “Temaeus”Continue reading “Atlantis Found! Wait, There Is Another One, or 7, Wait 12 in Total… No, 19!”
Rats with Wings, or Masters of the Sky
Over the past few years, we have written about the tall, strange-looking people who live in that twilight zone between sea and land — the coastal strip along the southern shores of the North Sea. Lately, however, the repetitive long-calls alerted us to a blind spot: we forgot all about the iconic animal of thatContinue reading “Rats with Wings, or Masters of the Sky”
Shipwrecked People of the Salt Marshes
Tidal marshlands and Frisians, a dual entity. The Chauci and the Frisians — referred to by the Romans as Frisii or Fresones — had learned to adapt to an unprotected yet strangely hospitable salty world: a vast, treeless expanse of tidal marshlands. No rocks, no forests, scarce fresh water, and regularly flooded by a cold,Continue reading “Shipwrecked People of the Salt Marshes”
Magnus’ Choice. The Origins of the Frisian Freedom
According to medieval legend, around the year 800, Charlemagne and Pope Leo clashed with the citizens of Rome. The Pope was attacked and forced to flee the city. It was an army of ‘naked’ Frisians, led by Magnus, that stormed back in, retaking the citadel and the Urbs Aeterna — the Eternal City. In gratitude,Continue reading “Magnus’ Choice. The Origins of the Frisian Freedom”
Giants of Twilight Land. Creatures of the Rim
At the intersection of land and sea — where it is hard to tell where one ends and the other begins — life is harsh. The corrosive salt of the sea is ruinous to most land species, which explains the formerly near-treeless, flat, and monotonous tidal marshlands of Frisia. Conversely, most aquatic life cannot handleContinue reading “Giants of Twilight Land. Creatures of the Rim”
The United Frisian Emirates and Black Peat. How Holland Became Dutch
In this blog post, we will argue that the Frisian lands might just as well be called the United Frisian Emirates. Granted, there are a few superficial differences with the modern United Arab Emirates. The Emiratis have camels and goats; the Frisians have cows and sheep. Their climate is hot and dry; the Frisians’ isContinue reading “The United Frisian Emirates and Black Peat. How Holland Became Dutch”
The Treaty of the Upstalsboom. Why Solidarity Is Not the Core of a Collective
At the time of writing this blog post (2018), many supranational organizations, whether governmental or judicial, are struggling with their legitimacy and survival; it is almost becoming tedious. Take, for example, the European Union with a humiliating Brexit and its seemingly endless debates on urgent monetary and migration policy reforms. Consider the International Criminal CourtContinue reading “The Treaty of the Upstalsboom. Why Solidarity Is Not the Core of a Collective”
Racing on the Wadden Sea with a Silt Sled
The mudflats of the Wadden Sea seem endless. But what do you do with them? How do you give meaning to mud? Sure, one cubic meter of mudflat holds millions of diatoms, thousands of small crabs, mussels, snails, and worms. For birds, all this frutti di mare is like ordering à la carte. Birds areContinue reading “Racing on the Wadden Sea with a Silt Sled”
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”
Frisia Coast Trail 