Sneek Local Customs

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Frisian people speak Frisian. That is not a dialect but a different language. It is a bit between Dutch and English. Luckily Frisians are bilingual and speak Dutch also. So there's nothing from keeping you to talk to some people!

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Tiles give away a great deal of information about history. I have loved tiles for a long time, ever since I visited the Tile Museum in Otterlo at age 15 or so.

Anyway, here in the Hindelooper Kamer (see Restaurant tips), it was fun to spot original tiles (verrry old), simply old tiles and new tiles.
You see, verrrry old tiles have a hole in opposite corners, made by nails when they were fired in the kiln. Newer tiles (and even those are old) do not have those.

Behind the stove in old kitchens, the wall would often be tiled so that it could be easily cleaned off soot coming off the stoves. The nicer the decoration, the richer the family, that's obvious.
A popular decoration were scenes from the Bible, even with the actual text of where to find the scenes.

Another popular decoration would be depicting children's games, or various professions. See photo 3 in this tip.

There were also tableaux, a series of tiles together depicting a larger image. Like in photo 2 and 4.

Mind you, this tile business is not typical for Sneek or for Friesland. It's a general thing in The Netherlands in old houses and farms. But as these tiles can be found in Sneek, I thought it nice to explain a little about it here.

Sneek

Butter, broad en melk in un beker
WIe dat nyt sege jab us gyn echte Sneker
Ik wel, want ik woan bij de Waterpoart
Der hewwe jim fast wel fan hoard
Dat is al un heel out gebou derit ik kafn hou
Boaten, grachten en de stad
Sneek is en blieft myn groatste skat!

Marcel van der Meulen


Butter, bread and milk in a mug
whoever can't say that, isn't a true Sneker
I can, 'cause I live at the Waterpoort
You must've heard of it
It's a very old building that I love
Boats, canals and the town
Sneek is and will be my greatest treasure!

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The province Friesland is most renowned for its sailing and boating opportunities. Many people who live here own a boat. Some are lucky to have their boat moored right where they live. This possibility greatly adds to the value of the house.

On the photos a private home in Sneek with a moored sailing boat.

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Here you can buy special dog poo plastic bags. When you walk the dog, in any neighbourhood, you're supposed to clear up the poo with the bag and drop it in special containers, like this.