Family Tree - Dutch Families

The de Leeuw family came from Sneek, Friesland. Here is some brief history about Sneek and at the end are a series of useful links for further information.

Sneek - Snits

Located amongst the Frisian lakes 125 Km Northwest of Amsterdam, Sneek is known in the local Frisian language as Snits. Today Sneek consists of the towns and villages of Sneek, Loënga, Offingawier and Ysbrechtum. Population for 2000 was estimated at 31,500. It is so far North that the Winters are harsh and in Summer it has white nights (the sun doesn't fully set).
	Aerial view of Sneek (Right)
Waterpoort 1613	The Waterpoort (watergate) of 1613 was the main entry point for seagoing vessels on their way into the city and is now the symbol of the city. Water still plays a major role in Sneek today. It is famous for its watersports including sailing in Summer and skating in Winter (it is one of the eleven cities of the famous Elfstedentocht), and the shipbuilding tradition is still strong in the area.
Westersingel canal with monumental old willow trees	With waterways connecting it to the open sea, Sneek was a natural focus for commerce, growing rapidly in the thirteenth century from a village to a town and was incorporated as a city in 1294. The medieval canal system is still in place (Left). The original town hall from 1478 is also still standing although it has been renovated and remodelled several times since then (Right).
In its heyday in the 1450's - 1550's Sneek was a thriving commercial centre supplying all of Friesland. On his city map of 1616 Nicolaas Geelkerken wrote 'Sneeck is die Eenigste Bemuerde Stadt van geheel Frijszlandt' (Sneek is the only walled city in all of Friesland). Blaeu's 1652 map collection for all the major cities of the Netherlands includes Sneek.
Blaeu's 1652 Map of Sneek

Links to Sneek

There are a surprisingly large number of sites with images and information about Sneek:

• Sneek History Essay - good detailed history of Sneek.
• www.Friesland.org - brief history of Sneek with photos
• www.Friesland-VVV.net - Friesland tourist board's introduction to Sneek
• www.Sneek.nl - Sneek city council.
• De Internet Courant van Sneek - online local news from Sneek

Links to Friesland Sites

And there are even more sites with images and information about Friesland:

• Ryksargyf Fryslân - Excellent site with online searchable database of Frisian births (1811-1902), deaths (1811-1942), marriages (1811-1922). Click on "Onderzoek" at top of page.
• FriesArchiefNet.nl
• Friesland Geneaology e-group - useful group of archived messages about Frisian genealogy. Can also subscribe to receive mail. Either click on "Messages" and browse, or enter keyword and click on "Go".

Links to Other Dutch Genealogy Sites

For more links go back to main Dutch Family Tree page of Bruinsma, de Vet and de Leeuw families and see links at bottom of page.

More Family Trees

• Back to main Family Tree page.
• Back to the Bruinsma, de Vet and de Leeuw families of Friesland.
• Annemarie's American family: the McDonalds go back to John McDonald of Argylshire, Scotland born c. 1736. He landed in Georgia, USA in about 1752 and settled in Virginia. The next generation took the McDonalds to Tennessee, Ohio, Iowa, Alabama.