FRIESLAND, or VRIESLAND  , a province of Holland, bounded S.W., W. and N. by the Zuider Zee and the North Sea, E. by Groningen and Drente, and S.E. by Overysel . It also includes the islands of Ameland and Schiermonnikoog (see FRISIAN ISLANDS) . Area, 1281 sq. m.; pop . (1900) 340,262 . The soil of Friesland falls naturally into three divisions consisting of sea-clay in the north and north-west, of low-fen between the south-west and north-east, and of a comparatively small area of high-fen in the south-east . The clay and low-fen furnish a luxuriant meadow-land for the principal industries of the province —cattle-rearing and cheese- and butter-making . Horse-breeding has also been practised for centuries, and the breed of black Middle Sea . The seaport towns are more or less decayed; they include Stavoren (82o), Hindeloopen (1030), Workum (3428), Harlingen (q.v.) and Makkum (2456) . For history see FRISIANS .