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Achtkarspelen

Achtkarspelen
Municipality
Road into Surhuizum
Road into Surhuizum
Flag of Achtkarspelen
Flag
Coat of arms of Achtkarspelen
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Achtkarspelen in a municipal map of Friesland
Location in Friesland
Coordinates: 53°15′N 6°9′E / 53.250°N 6.150°E / 53.250; 6.150Coordinates: 53°15′N 6°9′E / 53.250°N 6.150°E / 53.250; 6.150
Country Netherlands
Province Friesland
Government
 • Body Municipal council
 • Mayor Gerben Gerbrandy
Area
 • Total 103.98 km2 (40.15 sq mi)
 • Land 102.40 km2 (39.54 sq mi)
 • Water 1.58 km2 (0.61 sq mi)
Elevation 2 m (7 ft)
Population (May 2014)
 • Total 27,938
 • Density 273/km2 (710/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode Parts of 9000 range
Area code 0511, 0512
Website www.achtkarspelen.nl

Achtkarspelen (Dutch pronunciation: [ɑxtˈkɑrspələ(n)]) is a municipality in Friesland in the northern Netherlands.

The name Achtkarspelen is derived from the original eight kerspelen within the grietenij, namely: Augustinusga, Buitenpost(Capital), Drogeham, De Kooten, Kortwoude, Lutkepost, Surhuizum and Twijzel. Achtkarspelen held a separate status within Friesland for many years. In the Middle Ages Achtkarspelen fell under the Bishopric of Münster, meanwhile the rest of Friesland was a part of the Bishopric of Utrecht. The grietenij Achtkarspelen became a Municipality in 1851 after the gemeentewet (Municipality law) of Johan Rudolf Thorbecke.

The administrative centre in the municipality is Buitenpost.


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